Splendid little portrait miniature of a young woman with her lace bonnet, her shy look-away pose, and her fiche shawl baring a lovely breast. This is what in collector's terms is referred to as a 'naughty', sensually and sexually arousing, some lucky gentleman (or not) would have been proud to pull his snuff box up for a pinch. And in so doing, if his compatriots happened to glimpse his amour, mistress, or willing servant girl, so much more was the pleasure to be had. The painting is quite wonderful, given its small size. The fact that it holds so well together when I expand its size greatly for these photos affirms the quality, but I have not taken her out of her mount either to get clearer photos without her convex cover glass, nor to test what I am certain in karat gold. If the mounts are firmly set, I'm not one to pry (pun intended). The snuff box is not tortoise shell, though it mimics it. It is a composition similar to later papier mache or it is wood that has a heavy lacquer coat - I think the latter. Definitely a late 1700s piece, and fabulous!
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the portrait miniature is particularly superb and is undamaged. The original convex cover glass is clear and could only benefit from a cleaning of inside, where I can see very slight accumulation of age/fog, which would provide a clearer view of this young woman and her charms. The rims of the outer box show a little loss of the lacquer here or there, but no chips or cracks, no breaks. Measurements are noted on the photos.
