Borghese Framed Prints and Art
From early on in its history, Niepolds, Inc. produced a wide range of framed art reproductions and prints (called "Panels" in their catalogs). The earliest examples were actual artist painted copies on stretched canvas, of famous landscapes, portraits and silhouettes ranging in style from the Renaissance through the 19th century. These copies are extremely rare. The examples below are from a 1929 catalog of Borghese items that were offered by Charles Hall Inc, a distributor of Borghese in its three exclusive store locations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. They display a wide range of engravings and prints in all shapes and sizes:
Although not completely documented, it would appear that some of the earliest prints labeled "borghese" do actually contain authentic 19th century monotone and colored engravings which were pasted into wood frames, under glass or cast plaster frames and then laquered over with varnish. The wood framed examples are probably of the earliest manufacture and usually have the highest value. The backs of the wood framed prints are usually covered with a brown paper upon which the "borghese" label is pasted. The plaster framed prints are usually backed in velvet or paper.
