Just 3/4", chin to receding hairline, this exceptionally fine c.1750s-70s portrait miniature is the work of a very talented artist, miniaturist of the era, and yet remains unsigned. Typical of most, the artist in the era being more a craftsperson, rarely elevated in status or reputation. A good 100 years before invention of photography, the portrait in miniature was an industry popular among the well positioned, Nobility and Royalty, and it's easy to see in most of them the confidence of position this gentleman holds, even as we do not know his identity. There is a little writing on the backing paper, and I've shown it for review while I had it opened to clean the interior cover glass, but I can't really make out much of a clue. A man of his time, moving toward the future upheavals of the French Revolution in decades ahead. The box is of superb quality. Brilliantly crafted old tortoise shell - the entirety a museum quality piece of the past, some 250 + years ago.
Very good to excellent condition throughout. I've shown the painting greatly enlarged and you can see it is in fine condition, the artist's slight fill in a spot. No breaks, hairlines, cracks nor damage. Protected beneath the original convex cover glass, held in place with a brass-backing mat which has a facing plaque in 18k gold (somewhat typical of the 18th century, as these paintings present. Full measurements noted on th photos.
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.
