The Amber Sands Photo Frame Antique 10x15

The Amber Sands is a rectangular frame for a 10 × 15 cm photograph, its whole face laid with narrow tiles of buffalo bone. The tiles sit side by side like a mosaic and each one has its own tone, running from cream to brown with darker grain. The back is wooden and carries a fold-out strut.

Dimensions and the photograph it takes

The frame measures 18.5 × 23.5 cm and is 1.3 cm thick, made for a 10 × 15 cm photograph set portrait. The two figures give a border of about 4 cm on every side — so the surround takes up roughly as much area as the picture itself.

It weighs 450 g. On a shelf, sideboard or desk it occupies a rectangle just under 20 cm wide, and because it leans back on its strut it also needs a few centimetres behind it — a measurement worth comparing with the depth of your own surface.

What it is made of

The manufacturer gives the material as buffalo bone and describes the finish as antique. The tiles are cut and finished by hand, so the spread of tones and the polish differ from piece to piece — two frames from one batch will not match. The country of origin is India.

The tiles cover the face only; the edges and the back are smooth and darker, and the joints between tiles are visible across the whole width of the surround. This is a mosaic lay-up rather than a single sheet.

Standing it and looking after it

The back has a hinged fold-out strut, so the frame stands on a flat surface. Two keyhole hangers are also screwed in near one edge, so the alternative is hanging it on the wall from two screws. The backing board is held by turn clips that swing aside to let the photograph in.

The manufacturer intends the frame for indoor use only. Dust comes off with a dry cloth; solvents and harsh cleaners are advised against, as is prolonged direct sunlight and high humidity, which can discolour or warp the bone.