This beautiful portrait miniature is an early 19th century child, a boy, Prussian or Germany - Eastern European in a heavy velvet gown or coat and with that little black hat tilted to one side and a lace collar. He looks to be about 2 years of age. Big eyes are brown, a cupid-bow mouth and plump ruddy cheeks. Portraits of children are quite rare, and even more rare is having any ID of who this darling boy was. I found him in France. Facing on this mat mounting is not gold plaque, but seems to be gold plating, and it would once have been fitted into a wooden plaque "frame" typical of the era, early 1800s. Happily, no indications or mourning iconography worked into the portrait. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Wafer is nicely preserved, no chips, hairlines or cracks, and no warp to it. Splendid little painting, his face is 9/16ths (slightly more than 1/2") from chin to hairline. Original convex cover glass and the ornamental original mat working together as frame. As noted, it would have been a mat held into an opening of a plain wooden plank style frame, common in the time.
