Fabulous 18th century (c.1750-70s) portrait miniature of a beautiful young woman with bared bodice, often referred to as a 'naughty', though in fact in her time this was fashionable, as was her feather boa hat and broad powdered hairdo. A superb little painting in gouache on wafer, it has the original 16k mat still surrounding her. She was taken from a snuff box at some point. I happened to have a 17th century snuff whose painting was damaged, and interestingly enough, she fits it perfectly, so it is a marriage but both pieces perfectly suited and each are 18th century. The mount she's in is much more narrowly crafted - not the type for a frame, but the type made to fit a snuff box, so I'm happy to see her as she ought to be. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the box is exceptionally nice, without the usual shrinkage cracks, though there is a tiny one, noted with 'x', it does not run the length of the side lid like they often do. The 16k gold mat, when I found her, had been bent back so I've done my best to straighten it back as it should be for the piece's original state. There is a small section missing - gone to the centuries. Still, with her portrait fully intact and flat, well protected beneath the original convex cover glass, a superb snuff or patch box.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
