A cleat system  is one of the best for distributing weight. Basically 
what you do is rip a 45 degree angle down the lengths of a 1" x 3" or a 
1" x 6" strip of wood. Fasten one wood strip pointing down (angled edge) 
on the artwork and the other pointed up on the wall. Pick the work up 
and set the angles together and you got it. An angle iron could also be 
attached to the bottom of the artwork to provide extra support. You can 
install some pretty hefty works with this method.
Jerry Fahey

Scott D. Peters wrote:

>I know this might seem like an oddball question, but I'm hoping someone on the list could provide some practical advice on hanging heavier (over 100 lbs.) framed objects. This would be in a residential situation, so house museum curators would be especially worth hearing from. At the moment I am "out of the field" and working in a hardware store. I have some curatorial experience, but most of museum work was in interpretation, education and archival collection management. 
>Over the past few days, we have had a number of customers asking for advice on hanging items framed pieces that are over 100 lbs. Some well over 100 lbs. We do not carry wire that tests at more than 100 lbs and the guys in our lumber department, who are knowledgeable about most such things aren't too sure about how to go about hanging these items other than going into the studs. From my experience, the key to hanging such items is to secure two hangers to the studs and, using heavy test braided wire, hang the work on the wire so that the wire hangs as parallel as possible. This distributes the load evenly with little in the way of stress points that would cause the wire to weaken. And the majority of the load is absorbed by the studs.
>
>Can anyone verify if that is true, or recommend a preferred method that i can pass along to our customers and to my co-workers? 
>
>Thanks in advance. 
>
>Scott D. Peters
>Historically Speaking
>(for the time being working for Millhurst Mills / Ace Hardware)
>
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