What Comes in the Box With a Framed Print

A direct answer on hanging kits, what sellers usually include, and where hidden hardware costs actually appear. Written for anyone tired of discovering the fixings were never in the price.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

Framed and canvas editions from Auvrique ship with a hanging kit included at no extra cost, typically wall hooks, anchors and fixings matched to the weight of the piece. Auvrique does not currently carry Gustave de Smet editions, but any print bought elsewhere should be checked against the seller's product page, since kit contents vary.

The short answer on hanging kits

A hanging kit is a small bundle of hardware that lets a print go on the wall the day it arrives. Most kits contain two hooks, wall plugs, and screws or nails sized to the weight of the piece. Some add a spirit level or a paper template for marking drill holes. The point is simple. You should not need a second purchase before the work can be displayed.

Sellers differ more than buyers expect. Some include the kit as standard with every framed or canvas order. Others sell it as an add-on at checkout, which is exactly the hidden fee this page exists to warn about. A few ship nothing at all and assume you own a toolbox. Before buying a Gustave de Smet print anywhere, read the product page for the phrase ready to hang, and if it is absent, ask the seller directly.

What ready to hang should actually mean

The phrase earns its keep only when three things are true. The frame or canvas arrives with its hanging fixture already fitted, the fixings for your wall are in the box, and none of it costs extra. A canvas stretched on a wooden bar can hang on a single screw. A framed poster with a wire or sawtooth hanger needs the same plus the hardware to anchor it. If a listing says ready to hang but charges for the kit, it is not.

Wall type matters more than kit contents. A plasterboard wall needs anchors a masonry wall does not, and a large canvas on a textured wall may want two fixing points rather than one. A good kit covers the common cases. If you are still weighing formats before you buy the canvas edition, the hardware question is worth settling first, because it changes what arrives in the box. Our guide to choosing canvas or framed poster walks through that trade-off.

Check before you order

Confirm the listing states a hanging kit is included in the price
Check whether the fixings suit plasterboard, brick or textured walls
Look for a stated weight, since heavy frames need stronger anchors
Ask the seller directly if the product page is silent on hardware

Avoiding the second invoice

The frustration this question comes from is real. A print priced fairly can quietly become a worse deal once you add a mounting kit, a level and a trip to the hardware shop. The fix is to treat hardware as part of the price when comparing sellers. Two listings that differ by ten units of currency are not equal if one ships without fixings. Ask what is in the box before you pay, not after.

It is also worth separating the two markets. Original works by Gustave de Smet, the Flemish expressionist who worked across the first half of the twentieth century, trade through auction houses and dealers, and none of that includes hardware or a hanging service. Reproduction editions are a different product for a different budget. If you are deciding where to source a print, our page on buying Gustave de Smet prints online covers the sellers worth comparing.

A print that needs a second purchase before it touches the wall was never priced honestly.

Item	Purpose	Usually included
Wall hooks	Carry the frame or canvas bar	Yes
Wall plugs and screws	Anchor into plasterboard or masonry	Yes
Spirit level or template	Mark holes level before drilling	Sometimes
Wall mounts pre-fitted	Fixture attached to the frame itself	Varies by seller

What a hanging kit usually contains

Key takeaways

A hanging kit should cost nothing extra and arrive in the same box as the print.
Ready to hang means pre-fitted fixtures plus wall fixings, not just one of the two.
Sellers differ, so check the product page for kit contents before paying.
Auvrique does not currently offer Gustave de Smet editions, so compare sellers on total cost including hardware.

Related questions

Do canvas prints need different hardware from framed posters?

Usually less. A stretched canvas is light and can hang on a single screw driven into a wooden stretcher bar or a D-ring. A framed poster is heavier and often hangs from wire or a sawtooth hanger, which needs anchors matched to the wall. A complete kit covers both cases.

What if my wall is textured or uneven?

Textured walls reduce contact between hook and surface, so use two fixing points for anything above roughly 60 cm wide, and prefer anchors over adhesive strips. For uneven plaster, a spacer or a French cleat keeps the frame level. Our guide to hanging prints on textured walls covers the details.

Are Gustave de Smet prints available as reproductions?

Yes, through print sellers and auction platforms, though availability varies because de Smet is a specialist taste rather than a household name. Auvrique does not currently carry his work. When comparing listings, weigh the print quality, the framing options and whether hardware is included in the stated price.

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