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Australian bark picture
This is an original mid-century vintage Australian paperbark collage artwork, housed in its classic molded oval frame.
1. English Frame Origin
The top-left corner features an embossed stamp reading:
"BRITISH REGISTERED DESIGN NO. 989720"
This confirms that the frame itself was manufactured in the United Kingdom. This exact registered design number belongs to HL (Henri L. Posture), a British company active in the mid-to-late 20th century that mass-produced decorative home accessories, picture frames, and wall art components.
2. Early Plastic Material
Though it closely resembles dark wood or faux-tortoiseshell from the front, the back shows that the frame is made from an early injection-molded thermoplastic resin or Bakelite variant. The circular indentations, uniform molded tabs, and specific recessed slots are production marks from industrial factory molds.
3. Assembled Folk Art History
Finding a British factory-made frame paired with native Australian paperbark art highlights how these pieces were created:
During the mid-century folk art boom, regional Australian hobbyists and commercial artisans regularly bought imported, ready-made oval frames to house their handmade creations.
The original maker purchased this empty British frame, cut a custom piece of cardboard backing, layered their gathered bush materials inside, and locked it into place using the small rotating plastic turns.
The frame measures 12.2cm x 10.1cm, with a thickness of 1.7cm.
The picture section measures 7.5cm x 5.7cm. It has glass over it.
It is in good vintage condition.
