Who invented the picture frame?

Picture frames were invented by the ancient Egyptians. They carved or painted on a piece of wood and then carve the edges out of the wood to create a frame. Examples of these early frames have been found in the tombs of mummies.

In Europe, picture frames were used to frame icons and were sometimes designed to resemble windows, reflecting the idea that paintings were "windows into the soul." In America, picture frames were initially simple and practical, but later featured agricultural embellishments such as corn and wheat, in contrast to the leaf and flower designs often seen on frames in Europe.