A wooden window frame leaning against a white wall.

French Style Stretchers

Recommended For

Conservators restoring period pieces.

Design

An updated variation on the original.

Material

Eastern White Pine with Basswood crossbars.

Stretcher Bar Profile

Continuous bevel.

  • Close-up of tied keys for an art stretcher of a larger wooden stretcher.
  • A wooden corner of a French stretcher with a 90-degree angle.
  • A wooden French stretcher with a tied keys inserted at the corner, used by artists and conservators.
  • Close-up of a wooden corner joint showing a finger joint connection.
  • A wooden American Traditional stretcher lying on a white surface.
  • A wooden artist stretcher leaning against a white wall.
  • Close-up of the corner of a wooden picture frame with a mitered joint

What is a French Style Stretcher?

A rare specialty option, conservators turn to our French Style Stretchers for the highly accurate and reliable restoration of period pieces. Normally this product is used to recreate an antique support to fit into its original frame.

Originally popular in France during the late-19th-century, the design features a miter joint on the face and a butt joint on the back (departing from earlier versions with a mortise and half miter construction). Simon’s modification, incorporating an extra finger in the joint, provides additional strength.

Available in a flat back continuous bevel profile or a bevel back continuous bevel profile. Made with eastern white pine and basswood crossbars.

Wooden triangular corner piece with a metal hinge.