A tightening key is a small wedge or shim used in the construction of a canvas stretcher frame with expandable joints. The key is inserted into the slotted inside the stretcher bars at the mitered corners of the frame to prevent or adjust sagging. Tightening keys are commonly made in plastic or wood, and are often called corner keys or corner wedges. Tightening keys were introduced in the mid-18th century, making expandable (versus rigid) stretcher frames possible.
Use
Most stretcher frames have eight keys, two in each corner. Each key is tapped in to expand the stretcher bars slightly, tensioning the canvas. The keys can be used to re-tighten the canvas as it relaxes naturally over time. If the key is tapped too forcefully, it may tear the side of the canvas. Conversely, keys that become too loose can fall out during handling and damage the painting's surface. The process of inserting keys into the stretcher is called "keying-out."
Types
Corner keys or wedges come in various forms. Most are manufactured for a specific size stretcher bar, making framers and artists hold various sizes in stock. A product called "wedgee" eliminates the need to stock many types as it has a male / female profile, which allows it to be pressed together to fit most corner cut-outs.
See also
References
- ^ Basic condition reporting : a handbook. Deborah Rose Van Horn, Heather Culligan, Corinne Midgett, Southeastern Registrars Association (4th ed.). Lanham, Maryland. 2015. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-4422-4770-3. OCLC 894625590.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ The preservation management handbook : a 21st-century guide for libraries, archives, and museums. D. R. Harvey, Martha R. Mahard, Donia Conn (2nd ed.). Lanham, Maryland. 2020. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-5381-0900-7. OCLC 1121443778.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Friel, Michael (2010). Still-life painting atelier : an introduction to oil painting (1st ed.). New York. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-307-82878-1. OCLC 897376626.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Tsang, Jia-Sun; Madruga Carvalho Caldeira, Ines; Williams, Don; Pelasara, Rick; Patterson, Robert (2013). "Modernized Stretcher for Paintings on Canvas: Assessment and Observation" (PDF). Postprints. 26. American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: 91–92.
- MacFarlane, Rachel (2017-05-26). "A Painter's Guide to Stretching Canvas". Format Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
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