The most common soft hardwoods used in picture framing are basswood, ramin, obeche and mahogany. The most common dense hardwoods are oak, walnut, cherry and ash. The most common truly soft softwoods are pine, redwood and cedar.

Natural oil paint works best on wood picture frames, as it dries slightly softer, so it can expand and contract with changing temperatures. Oil-based paints take longer to dry than latex paints, so let the frame sit undisturbed for at least eight hours.

It is the inherent value of the material that makes these antiques so precious. However not all frames that appear to be gold leaf truly are. Some antique or vintage frames are gilded in a less precious metal than gold. To determine if a frame is in fact real gold leaf, look to its sheen or hue.