The Piece

An original mid-20th-century tabletop photograph frame retaining its period store display image, featuring Dorothy Lamour under contract with Paramount Pictures. The frame dates to c. 1935–1945, produced during the height of Hollywood’s studio-era glamour and sold as a finished retail object rather than an empty frame.

This is not a later pairing. The image, backing, and frame are original to one another. The printed insert bears a “5 x 7 – Guaranteed Not to Tarnish” mark, confirming it was intended as a permanent display piece demonstrating the frame’s finish and durability at point of sale.

The result is a rare survival of a complete retail presentation object, combining decorative metalwork with studio-era celebrity imagery.

Design & Construction

Frame

→ Date: c. 1935–1945
→ Material: Brass or brass-toned metal
→ Size: 5 x 7
→ Construction: Pressed metal with chased floral and foliate detailing

The frame features crisp ornamental relief along the edges and corners, with repeating classical motifs typical of American decorative metalwork from the late Art Deco to early post-Depression period. The metal has developed a warm, even patina rather than corrosion, consistent with age and careful handling.

The back stand and structure remain intact, allowing the frame to sit securely upright for tabletop display.

Image

→ Subject: Dorothy Lamour
→ Studio Credit: Paramount Pictures
→ Format: Printed promotional photograph
→ Original to frame

The image is a studio-issued glamour portrait, used to elevate the appeal of the frame in-store. The presence of the Paramount credit and actress name confirms this was licensed imagery, not a later reproduction added for novelty.

Condition

→ Frame structurally sound
→ Original patina with no active tarnish
→ No cracks or breaks to glass
→ Original image intact with light age toning
→ Minor wear consistent with mid-century retail use

The piece has not been altered, reframed, or “improved.” Its value lies in its completeness and authenticity rather than perfection.

Historical Context

During the 1930s and 1940s, decorative household objects frequently incorporated Hollywood studio imagery to capitalize on the glamour of the film industry. Frames like this were sold with celebrity photographs already installed, intended to be displayed immediately in the home or given as gifts.

Dorothy Lamour was one of Paramount’s most recognizable stars during this period, particularly associated with adventure and musical films. Her likeness was widely used in licensed promotional materials, making original surviving examples desirable today.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This piece functions as both decorative object and cultural artifact. It reads instantly as period-authentic, with none of the contrivance of modern reproductions. It works equally well styled among books and objects or displayed on its own as a quiet nod to Hollywood’s golden age.

It is ideal for:
→ A shelf or side table vignette
→ A study, dressing room, or bedroom
→ Layered display with framed art and ephemera
→ Collectors of studio-era Hollywood memorabilia

This is not just a frame. It’s a preserved moment of retail and film history.