A favorite, I love the c.1770s items decorated in the Vernis Martin layering of oil paint and varnish - Marie-Antoinette's favorite fashion. This young woman in her fichu and lace bonnet is in a rare 3/4 pose, might well be a bride's souvenir portrait, and an engagement or wedding gift to her parents or to her husband. Beautifully kept, it remains nearly free of damage of the centuries. The 18k gold trim that frames her into her aperture is worked in a repousee of little cornucopia, furthering my idea that it's a wedding portrait as the cornucopia is a symbol eliciting all the bounties of a good life. I've shown it from all sides, the interior is gorgeous, as well, and repeats the red of the Vernis Martin in the red to chocolate mottling of the tortoise shell. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. I can see a little bit of disruption to the surface painting on the Vernis Martin work, not much. The 18k gold mat is an opulent addition and isn't often seen in such an ornamental form. The old original convex cover glass is very clear and clean, and has protected her portrait perfectly. I do not see a signature, and I did not open this one to check for one on rim, back, nor for ID, which is sometimes to be found within. The gold isn't very thick, and prying on it seems not to be a good idea, particularly not when the cover glass remains so clean. Her face is only 1/2" from chin to hairline. The fine detail there and on the lace of her fichu (wrapped lace scarf) is more than remarkable. The tortoise shell lining is also in excellent form.
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.
