An exquisite antique Georgian portrait miniature of an exceedingly beautiful young woman that dates to around 1780. She bears a striking resemblance to Lady Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (an infamous ancestor of Princess Diana) and even if this is just wishful thinking she must certainly have been a fashionable and famous beauty of her day!
Hand painted in watercolour the sitter wears a pale blue dress with a white lace fichu around her décolletage. Her long golden blonde hair is swept up very high on the crown with masses of ringlets cascading around her shoulders. With her heart shaped face and and cupid bow lips she is one of the prettiest portrait miniatures we have seen!
The painting is set behind glass in a tortoiseshell framed pendant with a brass hanging loop on the top. The back of the pendant is covered in Georgian period wallpaper which has been sealed in a hard shellac type finish so the miniature is fully encased inside and is safe and well protected.
A gorgeous piece, steeped in wonder and history to explore. Portrait miniatures were used as portable and wearable reminders of loved ones long before the advent of photography and they offer us a fascinating glimpse into the past!
MATERIALS: tortoiseshell, brass, glass
MEASUREMENTS: 3" (8cm) tall including bail, 2-3/8" (6cm) without bail and 2" (5cm) wide
WEIGHT: 16.7 grams
DATE: Georgian, circa 1780
MARKS: none
CONDITION: in very, very good antique condition in keeping with age, the pendant shows light wear & scratches to the shell, the hanging loop is securely attached and the painting is still fresh and clear with no areas of loss noted. Please see the photos.
At Mercy Madge we offer quality antique and vintage jewellery sourced in Great Britain. Each piece is hand selected with you in mind and we rarely come across two identical old treasures, once they are gone, they are truly gone!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING – orders are dispatched next business day and sent tracked and insured
RETURNS - you can return your item for a full refund for any reason. Just get in touch within 3 days of receiving your order if you wish to do so.
DISCOUNT? - find special discount and no sales tax on our website at www.mercymadge.com
BUYING A GIFT? – all items will arrive gift wrapped in a custom Mercy Madge jewellery box. Unless otherwise stated antique boxes in our photos are for staging and are not included in purchase.
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Materials: Tortoiseshell, Brass.