When you have paid a large amount of money for a piece of artwork, you want to know that the frame in which it sits is doing its job and isn’t causing any damage to the artwork.
Although frames are there primarily to show off the artwork and to allow for it to be hung on the wall, it also acts as a protective layer around the artwork to prevent it from becoming damaged whilst on display.
There are many things that can cause damage to a piece of artwork when it is on display. This is typically excessive exposure to sunlight, heat and moisture. All of these elements result in the artwork becoming warped, faded or wrinkly. This is obviously the last thing you want when you have paid a lot of money for a piece of artwork which is why you need to make sure it is inside a suitable frame.
In addition to a good frame, you should also ensure that the mount is preventing the glass from touching the artwork. The glass can potentially damage whatever is contained inside the frame and a mount effectively acts as a barrier between the artwork and the glass.