Shadowbox Framing in San Francisco: A Modern Take on Designer Keepsakes

Some custom framing projects lean into nostalgia, some lean into preservation, and some lean into pure personality. This one? A little of all three. A client brought in a set of limited-edition Saint Laurent Paris condom packs: the kind of unexpected design object that deserves more than a drawer. They wanted something bold for their bathroom, something that felt intentional, sculptural, and quietly funny. Basically: high fashion meets SF humor.

For pieces like this, the frame has to walk a line. Too subtle, and the art gets lost. Too loud, and the luxury packaging loses its charm. We landed on an all-black shadowbox with a coarse black linen mat. Textured enough to catch light, dark enough to keep the focus on the objects. The linen gives just enough contrast so the floating packets cast a clean shadow line, and the interior walls stay visible instead of flattening into darkness.

This type of shadowbox work taps into what we’ve done at Underglass Framing for over 40 years: framing the unexpected, honoring the story behind the object, and making sure the design holds up for decades. Whether it’s high fashion ephemera, collectibles, prints, textiles, or something you picked up on a whim and now can’t imagine parting with — oversized, tiny, odd-shaped, or delicate — we’re equipped to frame it safely and beautifully.

And if you're thinking about holiday gifts (or treating yourself — we encourage both), we’re open seven days a week.