In the manner of the early to mid-1700s tiny portrait miniatures, mounted within small pocket cases like this one, resides a pair of hand painted portrait miniatures, man and woman, and I do believe that is Marie-Antoinette on the right. Living portraits of her in her youth show that same facial construction and features. The face of the man's portrait is a bit rubbed, but it is likely a young King Louis XVI, and might possibly have been a souvenir of their marriage. Typical of these early ones, they're very small and do not have cover glass. Usually the old case would be like this, or perhaps in leather-clad wood or shagreen (galuchat, the leather from stingray). A sweet pair, and she certainly is a Habsburg, if not Marie-Antoinette. An early one I've had for decades in my own collection, the case is just 2" x 1.75" oval. Her face is just 1/2", chin to hairline. Amazing work. It's really the size of a locket, though no bale or fitting for a bale was ever part of it.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The outer carved ivory case, or etui, remains undamaged by the centuries. The 2 paintings are in gouache on thin wafer, no cover glass (typical of this type cased images). The gentleman's face has been rubbed, but her face is most surely that of a young bride, Marie-Antoinette. They are as you see them.
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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.
