Since 1990, Amyas Naegele Fine Art Bases has provided mounting services for many premier dealers, sculptors, and collectors both throughout the United States and abroad. Objects on our bases have appeared in museums and galleries around the world, in Sotheby’s and Christie’s auctions, and in magazines and books. We fabricate bases for pieces of all sizes, from Anatolian bronzes to dinosaur fossils. If we can lift it, we can mount it. Any three-dimensional object intended for display will benefit from a tasteful and sensitively constructed base, which elevates the object, holding it at the optimum angle and making it secure.
Fine Art Bases
Mask Mounting
The vast majority of objects we handle are singular in nature and unsuitable for generic mounts. Pieces in need of mounting should be delivered in person, by post, or other courier, and should be fully insured by the owner against loss or damage both while in transit and during mounting. While every precaution is taken to protect and secure objects in our care, we cannot take responsibility for every eventuality. In the rare event that an object arrives damaged or becomes compromised before return, customers will be notified immediately and actions will be taken to correct the issue accordingly.
We provide a full range of in-house restoration services. Depending on the nature and complexity of the task, turnaround times vary from one week to a month. During especially busy times, such as the weeks before major antiques and tribal shows, progress may be slower, particularly with large orders. There are some relatively generic objects whose mounts can be fabricated without the object in hand. These include most helmet masks, symmetrical pots, and some headgear. Please feel free to contact us to discuss what measurements and images/sketches, if any, will need to be provided.
All items shipped to us for basing should be individually tagged by the owner with their name and contact information. Specific requirements should be included. For clients with very detailed ideas about how they want their object mounted, a sketch with measurements is strongly recommended. Options are virtually limitless. Bases can be fabricated entirely from steel (14″ plates only), painted black, left raw, or brushed and lacquered. Brass bases (1/4″ or 1/2″) can be polished or patinated to a dark brown. Wood bases usually have a steel component–an armature or pin. We use extremely dense, stable tropical lumber. It can be natural or stained brown, dark brown, or black, finished satin or glossy. Available thicknesses are 1/2″ (small pieces only), 3/4″, 1.25″, 1.75″, or 3″ (walnut). For greater thicknesses or specific varieties of wood, please inquire. Finally, some clients prefer mounts that allow objects to be hung directly on a wall, saving shelf and counter space. Armature-only wall mounts can be painted any color.
Basing charges are reasonable and specific to the task. The cost will reflect the time, materials, and complexity of the task. Tiny objects have negligible material costs, but can be very time-consuming. Large objects can sometimes be mounted quickly, but may require costly pieces of steel, in particular, special order stocks. Please contact for price quotes.
