I love this portrait miniature. It's one from c.1890-1920, a wealthy English Woman in her pearls and diamond starburst brooch, and her hair in fashionable Marcelled or finger waves. Her fur is carfully shouldered to fully display the diamond starburst. I've always loved those and have a few more to sell (separately) in months ahead. The other thing that tells us she was well-heeled is that she has had her portrait painted by a miniaturist, in an art that had all but disappeared after photography was invented in c.1838. Portraits in miniature done after 1870 were rare, and by this woman's era, only a special choice to mix in with ancestral collections. Very special, and one fashion and portrait collectors will not want to miss. The jeweled pearl set frame also elevates it. It doesn't want to pull loose from its recess or I would have tested it for gold content and also cleaned the interior of the bespoke polished convex cover glass so there would be no dust specs catching the photo lights. I suspect it will be a low karat gold but won't cut into the face of it to test. Full measurements are noted on photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. More than 100 years old, the open case is really quite pristine. Only the exterior of the leather-clad wooden locket frame shows the age and has deterioration. Not rips nor tears, but a surface change due to age. As noted, everything about this suggests the gold frame into which pearls are set would at least have a front plaque of karat gold, but I don't want to damage it or the silk velvet to pry it out for an acid test. Please don't do so if you buy her.
