1995 Christine McEwan Verre Visage Handcrafted Fused Glass 5x7 Picture Frame

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Vintage 1995 Christine E. McEwan Verre Visage Handcrafted Fused Glass 5×7 Picture Frame

A wonderful early Verre Visage fused-glass picture … Read more Vintage 1995 Christine E. McEwan Verre Visage Handcrafted Fused Glass 5×7 Picture Frame

A wonderful early Verre Visage fused-glass picture frame by Illinois glass artist Christine E. McEwan, later known as Christine Freeburn.

I personally acquired this piece in 1995, placing it at the very beginning of the Verre Visage story. Christine McEwan and Jim Freeburn began working together at their Elmhurst, Illinois studio in 1994, making this an especially early example from the studio's history. Verre Visage would go on to become the artistic partnership of Christine and Jim Freeburn, whose handcrafted fused-glass work was sold through galleries, shops and art fairs.

What makes this particular frame especially interesting is the amount of original period documentation that has remained with it since I acquired it in 1995.

The frame retains its original Verre Visage artist information insert, identifying the artist by her earlier name, Christine E. McEwan, rather than the Christine Freeburn name associated with her later work. Also included is Christine E. McEwan's original business card, which was kept inside the frame.
The original artist insert identifies McEwan as a registered State of Illinois artisan and describes the labor-intensive process used to create her fused-glass work. Each piece of glass was individually cut and ground into its intended shape, carefully arranged to create the design, and then kiln-fired through heating and cooling cycles lasting a minimum of 24 hours.

Also retained is the original Intercraft 5×7 photo-frame insert, copyright 1994. This is particularly interesting because the Intercraft name is also embossed on the easel backing of the frame itself. The matching 5×7 size, 1994 copyright date and Intercraft-marked backing indicate that the Intercraft component appears to be the original functional frame/backing assembly incorporated into the piece, while the decorative front is McEwan's handcrafted fused-glass work. The Intercraft insert specifies both vertical and horizontal display, which corresponds with the frame's original hardware.
The frame features a striking 1990s geometric, Memphis-inspired design with turquoise, cobalt blue, lavender, purple, yellow, green and deep burgundy glass elements fused against an opaque white glass background. The individually cut and arranged pieces give it the distinctive character of handcrafted American studio glass rather than a mass-produced decorative frame.

Date: Acquired in 1995
Artist: Christine E. McEwan, later Christine Freeburn
Studio: Verre Visage, Inc., Elmhurst, Illinois
Country of Origin: United States
Material: Hand-cut, kiln-fused art glass
Photo Size: 5" × 7"
Display: Portrait or landscape
Style: Postmodern / Memphis-inspired geometric
Provenance: Personally acquired in 1995 and retained with its original period materials
Included with the frame: Original Verre Visage/Christine E. McEwan artist information insert, original Christine E. McEwan business card, and original ©1994 Intercraft 5×7 photo-frame insert.

A particularly appealing early Verre Visage piece with a known 1995 acquisition date and unusually complete original documentation, including materials bearing Christine's earlier McEwan name. See less