4walls is always on the lookout for your most unusual commissions, so when we were sent this framed gun by Print and Frame It in Luton, we jumped at the opportunity to find out more! We spoke to owner Michael Spring to discover how this commission came about, and learn more about the company’s background.
Opened in 1976, originally under the name M & H Services, Michael used to be a customer at the shop until he moved to Argentina to work as the creative director for Coca-Cola. On his return back to Luton, he realised that no one in the area was providing high-quality print. Seizing this opportunity to fill a gap in a niche market, Michael bought M & H Services, and has been continuously developing it ever since. Michael tells us that the company has been incredibly successful following his adaptable approach and the introduction of a range of services including printing, framing and even embroidering.
He states: “It’s a niche market, so once I’ve got the customer, I’m going to try and do as much for them as I can before they leave the shop.” This one-stop-shop approach has attracted customers amongst the likes of Costa Coffee, Rolls-Royce and even the England rugby team! Michael also gave us more insight into the gun he was commissioned, and how his eye for detail made it one of the most fascinating pieces he has ever framed:
“When someone comes in to frame something, it is such an honour for them to even walk through the door. They gave me the deactivated gun with the ammo and said they hadn’t a clue what to do with it, but no other framers would touch it.”
MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! The finished frame was a work of art, encapsulating the finest details of the gun’s history, including using the same material from the bar it was kept under all those years ago in the frame!
Michael carried out some impressively in-depth research into the gun, discovering that it originated from the early part of 1860 and had been stored under a bar in a pub in Birmingham. After contacting the bar to find out some crucial details, Michael began work on the frame.
To see more from Print & Frame It, head over to their Twitter @printandframeit
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