A portrait miniature of a child, a little girl in a red dress. The artist has signed the work and dated it c.1844, but I am unable to decipher the signature. A slight rub to the surface of the painting , perhaps a touch of moisture at some point through the 180 years since. This one was painted on a panel of mother of pearl, visible on the backside of the old bracelet clasp casement. At some point some alteration was done to change this jewelry piece from a large bracelet clasp to a brooch, and thus it remains. Quite a charming image, a sweet little smile from so long ago.
Good to very good for age and type. The mother of pearl wafer is unbroken, no cracks. You can see with our huge enlargement there is a small disruption to the painting, as if perhaps light moisture (perhaps from the wrist in wear during too-warm weather?) has settled to slightly disrupt a section of the painting. The frame she is in was once a clasp for a bracelet. Over the centuries it has been altered (also early) for use as a brooch and that c-clamp and hinged pin are intact and working well. The 2 inserts which are necessary to alter back to bracelet clamp do still work and fit nice and tight. You do have options! Such a pretty little treasure. I think pinchbeck or rolled gold, perhaps an English piece, very early Victorian.
