Her face is only 1/2" from chin to hairline, and she's in the fashion and era of French King Louis XIV, mid-1700s, which is an accurate date for the tiny painting and exquisitely crafted hair art on the reverse side. The bale is not gold, but the ball or gadroon frame or mount tests 18k gold, meant to hang and in the precious small size of early portrait miniatures, or can be worn on a chain as a pendant should you wish to. As valuable as the painting, the mourning scene on backside, completely worked in hair, has the old French iconography in full: tomb, weeping willow, the dead tree and the small plant beginning to grow and flower - eternal symbolism. One of the finest hair art items I've ever seen, worked on white glass, no damage to the piece at all. Thick convex cover glass on each side making it the light-gathering oyster shape, making display or wear very eye-catching, indeed. Found in France, from my own collections now being disbursed. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, I see no flaws to note. The bale is not gold, just the ball or gadroon frame or mount is.
