Perseverance paid off in the end though as this absolute beauty turned up in a box of old picture frames at Rangiora Sales (known to locals as Rangiora Auctions, though it hasn't run auctions for half a century), a place well worth a visit if your in the area and have a half day to spare, it runs the gamut from spare parts to antiques. Wear warm clothing though, it's always absolutely freezing in there, even in midsummer.
Leather backed (I've yet to identify the leather, it looks like snake skin) and made of oak, decorated with a art nouveaux style gilt-metal flora, it was perhaps a Canterbury School of Art, arts and crafts era student project. I think it suits this favourite photograph of Claudine so well, not to mention suiting our Arts and Crafts bungalow, and is now in pride of place on the mantelpiece. If you are at all interested in that era or style, Simplicity and Splendour, The Arts and Crafts Movement in New Zealand, by Ann Calhoun will be in your local library if you are in New Zealand and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Ok, so one down, only another 103 to go!
Seriously though, any tips on where to find good looking photo frames so I can have a corresponding photograph of Findlay on the other side of the mantel would be most welcome.
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