Antique Georgian Silhouette on Silk 1795 Dollhouse Miniature

A very rare treat, we are so excited to be retailing this original late 18th century miniature female silhouette on silk which is one of a pair of twin sisters, each retailed individually. This tiny 2.5 inch tall silhouette is housed in its original 18th century pressed brass frames under old bubbled glass, which also has its inner metal horse shoe support to their reverse (a rare find indeed). A super rare example that is the perfect addition to your special doll or toy room. Or perhaps for the Georgian jewellery lover, worn on a ribbon for a special occasion.

Can you imagine the skill required to paint a silhouette on silk fabric, it is quite remarkable. The paint has to be the perfect consistency in order not to bleed or run. There is NO white used, the paler detailing seen in the folds of fabric is the under silk which has been deliberately left unpainted, quite some skill to get it right first time. Silhouettes portraits on silk are rare, for many of the reasons stated above and the fact that silk is a natural fabric that can age with time.

The silhouette depicts a young lady wearing a Corday cap or mobcap (famously named after Charlotte Corday, the female assassin of French revolutionary radical Jean-Paul Marat in his bath in July 1793 - see her portrait by Jean-Jacques Hauer in which she wears an identical cap).

The sitter is a young 18 to 25 years old woman who has her hair unpowdered and loose. She wears a diaphanous 'buffon' which was a large gathered piece of fabric. This was gathered to cover the delicate bosom area 'decolletage' which was shown by the low cut dresses of this 1790s era.

Size: 2.5 inch tall (6.5 cm) by 2 inch wide(5.25 cm)

Condition: The frame is good and strong and never opened. The silk is good and strong with no melting, just minor age darkening and two small old insect holes to her face Some age debris trapped under the glass.

A gorgeous teeny silhouette of a rare small size and on a scarce silk ground.

We are sad to part with this one, but excited for the next guardian.

Item Id:13299A