How to Choose Your Ripple Molding
Every ripple pattern tells a different story. This guide will help you find the one that's right for your project.
The Two Fundamental Motions
All ripple molding patterns are built on two motions invented in 17th-century Nuremberg and perfected in the Dutch Golden Age workshops of Amsterdam and Haarlem:
Wellenleisten (wave molding) — ripples that undulate up and down, like ocean waves rolling toward you. This is the classic, evenly spaced ripple most people picture when they think of a Dutch frame. It's calm, structured, and timeless.
Flammleisten (flame molding) — ripples that shimmer side to side, like a flickering flame running down the length of the wood. It's subtler and more restless, giving the frame a different visual energy.
Everything else in the world of ripple molding is built on top of these two fundamental motions — combined, alternated, or varied in frequency to create a whole family of patterns.
Choose Your Pattern
Steady Ripple →
Pure wellenleisten — even, uniform waves running the full length of the stick. The most common and recognizable Dutch ripple. Best for: formal portraits, still lifes, and anywhere you want a calm, structured frame.
Flame Pattern →
Pure flammleisten — lateral, flickering movement from side to side. More dynamic and expressive than a steady ripple. Best for: landscapes, expressive work, and pieces that benefit from visual movement in the frame.
Skip Pattern →
Alternating sections of rippled and smooth wood, creating a broken, rhythmic pattern. Best for: adding visual interest without overwhelming the artwork — a good middle ground.
Herringbone →
Angled ripple sections that meet at the center, creating a V-shaped chevron effect. Best for: adding richness and directionality — draws the eye inward toward the artwork.
Basketweave →
Sections of wellenleisten and flammleisten woven together in alternating blocks. Best for: large-format or heavily detailed pieces where the frame needs to hold its own.
Alternating Ripple →
A rhythmic pattern of larger and smaller waves — a subtle, sophisticated variation on the steady ripple. Best for: when you want the feel of a steady ripple with a little more personality.
Choose Your Size
Ripple molding comes in a range of widths and thicknesses. The right size depends on your project:
Width controls how much frame face is visible. Narrow moldings (under 1/2") work well as fillets or accents inside a larger frame. Wider moldings (3/4" and up) can serve as the primary frame profile.
Base stock thickness determines how much depth and shadow the frame has. A 1/4" base is the standard — clean and versatile. Thicker stock (3/8", 1/2", 5/8"+) gives the frame more presence and a deeper shadow line.
Under 3/8" 3/8" to 1/2" 1/2" to 5/8" 5/8" to 3/4" 3/4" to 1" 1" and over
A Living Tradition
Every molding in this shop is handcrafted using the same principles Johann Schwanhardt pioneered in 1600s Nuremberg — scraping steel profiles guided by pattern followers, producing ripple patterns one pass at a time on a three-axis waving engine. The technology has evolved, but the geometry and the craft are the same.
These are the same choices frame makers were weighing in Amsterdam and Haarlem four hundred years ago. The vocabulary is German, the tradition is Dutch, and the craft is alive and well today.
Questions? Request a custom frame or email ripplemolding@gmail.com