Shadow box framing in Prescott, AZ is how medals, needlework, jerseys, and holiday objects leave the drawer without being flattened under glass. Framers Market & Gallery, a full-service shop on Montezuma Street since 1984, builds depth into the frame so the object can sit rather than smash. Cooler evenings and fall gatherings are when those pieces come out. That is the moment to design the box—before a party table prompts a promise of a wall that does not yet exist.
What a shadow box does that a standard frame cannot
A flat frame presses. A shadow box holds volume: a fabric fold, a cap brim, a folded flag, medals on a bar, an ornament that should still look like itself. Archival mats, fabric-wrapped boards, and spacers keep paper and textiles off the glass. Conservation choices slow light and acid. None of that is automatic. It is specified on the bench with a Certified Picture Framer.
What people in Prescott actually bring in
- Military medals, insignia, folded flags, and service artifacts. Military display cases are a regular part of the shop’s custom work.
- Needlework and heirloom textiles that need even support and room to breathe.
- Sports jerseys, race bibs, and tickets that lose meaning in a scrapbook.
- Holiday ornaments, a child’s artwork with more dimension than a sheet, or a small instrument.
- Mixed memorabilia: a photograph plus the object that belongs with it. Photo restoration can be done first, on site, so the original print is not mailed away.
If the object is awkward—too deep, too fragile, or already fading—say so at the start. The design follows the object, not a catalog size.
Conservation, stated without romance
Prescott light is strong. UV-filtering glass and archival mats are the usual recommendation for anything that cannot be replaced. Standard materials cost less and are adequate for a poster that can be bought again. Heirlooms are not posters. Needlework should not touch glass. Photographs should not sit on acidic board. That advice is given in the shop. The budget remains the customer’s decision.
Visualize It software photographs the piece and places mat and molding options around it so designs can be compared on screen. A demonstration is free and faster than guessing from corner samples alone.
Hanging the box for holiday rooms
A shadow box is heavy relative to a thin frame. Art installation is available when the wall, the height, and the hardware require a second set of hands. Keep boxes off the path of a wood stove and out of a west window that bakes the contents. Picture lights can help a dark hall without putting heat against the glass. Ready-made frames on the floor are for simple prints. Dimensional work is custom.
Timing before gatherings
Shadow boxes require measuring, materials, and assembly. September and October remain the months when the shop can still hold a proper design conversation. Waiting until the week of a holiday open house is how objects stay in the closet.
The shop’s risk-free framing policy covers design dissatisfaction: if the design is not satisfactory, the work may be returned within 14 days for a redesign at no additional charge, provided the new design is of equal or lesser value (the difference is charged only if the new design costs more). Craftsmanship and materials supplied by the shop are covered for the life of the project; coverage does not apply to later damage from abuse, transportation, or exposure to the elements.
On Montezuma Street
Framers Market & Gallery
377 N. Montezuma Street, Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 445-2174
in**@*************ng.com
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Vickie Sheridan, owner, is a Certified Picture Framer with an MFA and a watercolorist’s eye for color. David Bright manages production. Jim Sheridan, co-owner, trained at the New England Framing Academy.
Bring the object. The wall can wait a few weeks. The drawer has already waited long enough.
FAQ: shadow boxes in Prescott
Can you frame a flag or medals in a shadow box?
Yes. Military and service displays are a standard part of the shop’s custom work.
Is shadow box framing the same as a ready-made deep frame?
No. Depth, fabric, spacers, and how the object is mounted are designed for that piece.
Should needlework go in a shadow box?
Often yes, or in a textile mount with space so stitches do not crush against glass. Bring the work in so the fiber can be assessed.
Do you restore a photo that will sit inside the box?
Yes. Scanning and digital restoration are done locally. The original stays at the shop.
