Boston's Proclamation & Plaque Framer
Proclamations, Citations & Plaques
City of Boston proclamations, BPD recognition plaques, hospital honoree awards, and retirement citations — framed and mounted to look as significant as the recognition itself. Hand-built in West Roxbury since 1981.
Walk-ins always welcome. Bring the piece in and we'll design and price it together.
A proclamation, citation, or recognition plaque marks something that doesn't happen twice. The City of Boston only declares so many days. A 30-year career only ends once. The frame around the document needs to match the weight of the moment — not look like a generic certificate frame from a big-box store.
We frame proclamations, citations, plaques, and recognition awards for City Hall constituents, BPD command staff, area hospitals, and corporate honorees. Conservation glass, acid-free mounting, and the formal mahogany-and-gold palette that suits the document.
What We Frame
How It Works
From walk-in to finished piece — a careful, hands-on process built over four decades.
Bring the document or plaque in
For paper proclamations, bring the original. For mounted plaques that arrived in inadequate frames, bring the plaque itself — we'll re-mount or re-frame it so the recognition reads with the weight it deserves.
Single, paired, or shadow box
Many City of Boston proclamations are issued as a pair (the mayoral proclamation + the council resolution). We can frame them side-by-side in one wide frame, as a matched pair, or with an inset shadow box for any included medallion or seal.
Match the formality
Most recognitions get traditional mahogany or walnut moulding with a subtle gold liner — formal, dignified, timeless. We carry the standard institutional palettes (Boston city seal gold, BPD blue, Massachusetts navy) and can match what the issuing body used.
Engraved nameplate
Most plaques benefit from an engraved brass nameplate at the bottom — recipient name, date, one line of context. We engrave in-house, no third-party turnaround.
Conservation mounting
Acid-free backing, conservation glass, sealed dust covers. The proclamation looks the same in 30 years as the day it was issued — gold seal intact, ribbons unfaded, paper bright.
Why It Matters
Conservation glass — protects official seals, gold leaf, and ribbons from fading
Acid-free, reversible mounting — the document is never trimmed or glued
Standard institutional moulding palette (mahogany, walnut, black-and-gold)
In-house brass engraving for nameplates — no third-party delays
Side-by-side / paired layouts for two-document proclamations
Re-mounting service for plaques delivered in inadequate frames
Bulk pricing for elected offices that frame constituent recognitions regularly
Shadow-box variants for plaques with embossed seals or medallions
Why Boston Trusts Us
The Boston civic ecosystem produces a steady stream of proclamations and recognition plaques — the Mayor's office, Boston City Council, the State House on Beacon Hill, BPD and BFD command staff, area hospitals, and the AmLaw firms downtown all issue formal recognitions every week. We've framed pieces from across that ecosystem for over 40 years — including a recent City of Boston proclamation declaring 'Jaylen Brown Day,' Boston Police recognition plaques and Special Citations, and the Whittier Street Health Center 'Beacon of Hope' annual honoree awards (Whittier has been a client of ours for over 25 years). If a constituent or honoree brings in a proclamation, we know how to frame it so it hangs proudly in an office or den for the next 30 years.
Recent Work
Common Questions
How much does proclamation framing cost?+
Every proclamation frame is custom — pricing depends on size, the moulding you choose, glass type, and whether you want an engraved nameplate. Bring the document in and we'll design the frame and work out the pricing together. Walk-ins are always welcome.
I received a paired proclamation (City of Boston + Council resolution) — can you frame them together?+
Yes — that's actually a common request. We frame the two documents side-by-side in a single wide mat so they read together as one piece. A paired layout looks more deliberate than two separate frames hung next to each other.
Can you re-frame a plaque I received in a cheap presentation?+
Yes. Many recognitions arrive in low-grade plastic frames or generic plaque holders. We'll re-mount the document or plate into proper conservation framing so the recognition holds up over decades.
Will conservation glass protect the gold-foil seal and ribbons?+
Yes. UV-protective conservation glass blocks 97%+ of fading rays — the gold foil, embossed seals, and ribbons stay vibrant. For especially valuable pieces we'd recommend museum glass for the anti-reflective coating as well.
Do you do engraved brass nameplates in-house?+
Yes — we engrave in-house, so there's no third-party turnaround. Most plaques include the recipient's name, date, and one line of context. We'll proof the layout with you before engraving.
Can you frame a proclamation as a surprise retirement gift before the ceremony?+
Absolutely. Tell us the ceremony date and we'll work backward. Rush turnaround is available — we've done plenty of these on tight retirement-party timelines.
Do you offer volume pricing for elected offices?+
Yes. Offices that issue and frame proclamations regularly (city, state, congressional) get a tiered rate sheet. Email us with the typical volume and we'll work out the pricing.
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Custom Diploma Framing
Official mat colors, seal embossing, and conservation glass — for graduates of any school, anywhere. From the Boston-area institutions we know by heart to schools across the country, we match the colors and details that make a diploma frame feel official.
Learn MoreReady to Get Started?
Walk in anytime or book a consultation. Bring the piece — we'll design it with you in person and work out the pricing on the spot. We put it in writing before any work begins.
1741 Centre Street, West Roxbury · Free parking · Walk-ins always welcome