Miniature Portraits + Silhouettes

Over the centuries families have always treasured representations of their loved ones, and people have been intrigued and collected portraits of the famous and infamous. Before cameras allowed the mechanical and digital representation of people it was the artist job to provide these likenesses. The artists could portray peoples faces using silhouette profiles, which represented an outline of the person, watercolours or oils, to provide a more representational effect, or even the three dimensionality provided by the use of wax, terracotta, porcelain or base metals. 


James Tassie
James Tassie, 1735 - 1799
Alexander Waugh, AM, 1794
Wax, inscribed to base and in original frame.
​Frame 13 x 9.5 cm
*Cat No. 401 in John Miller Gary: James and William Tassie: A Biographical and Critical Sketch, with a Catalogue of Their Portraits, 1894        
SOLD

wax miniature

5 - An Eighteenth Century wax portrait miniature of a gentleman
In original mahogany hexagon frame
Frame 14 x 15 cm            
Sold
Silhouette
FREDERICK FRITH
(British, active circa 1825-circa 1854)
​A cut silhouette of two boys, circa 1840.
Signed Frith lower left
In original frame and inscribed with sitters details to the reverse.
34.5 x 27 cm framed.
SOLD

wax miniature
6 - A Nineteenth Century coloured wax miniature portrait of a lady
Frame 16 x 13 cm            
Sold
Jean Urbain Guerin


​​9 - Jean Urbain Guerin, French (1815 – 1860)
Lady in a white dress in  fine original silver and gem set frame
Signed lower right
Miniature on ivory 
Image 6.7 cm
Ex John Klinger, Artists Market Antiques, label attached        Price: $1,200 incl GST
miniature
11 - A fine portrait miniature of a young lady
In original paper mâché frame
Image: 6 cm height Frame 11cm high            
​Price: $345 incl GST
Picture
16 – A very fine Nineteenth Century watercolour miniature of a gentleman in a brown coat
Inscribed to reverse: "J. Simpson my Great Grandmothers Brother"
In a paper mâché frame
Image 7.7 cm high Frame 15 cm high            
SOLD
Picture
17 – An Eighteenth Century portrait miniature of a gentleman in a blue coat
In a pressed brass frame.
Frame 14 cm high
Ex John Klinger, Artists Market Antiques, label attached    Price: $185 incl GST

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Picture
19 – An English silhouette of a graduate
In paper mâché  frame inscribed to the reverse:
" 1816 / Gregory Miniature painter of / Newgate Street”
Frame 14.4 x 12.5 cm                           
Sold
Picture
20 – A silhouette of a Scottish gentleman
Silhouette in a fine elm or huon wooden frame with sitters name inscribed on the reverse.
Frame 21 x 18 cm                         
​21 -John Downman
​(English 1750 - 1824)
Dr and Mrs Beatty
Watercolours
Signed lower right 
38 x 31cm  
Price: $650 (the Pair) ​Incl. GST
Picture
22 -Silhouette of Reverend Davis
A silhouette portrait, with highlights, of Reverend Davis.
​In original paper mâché frame.
Circa 1835
SOLD

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Picture
23 - Frederick Frith (British 1819 - 1871)
George Adams Esq, 1841
Signed to reverse "Frith Fecit 1841", and inscribed with name.
A silhouette with fine gilt highlights
Some discolouring to silk mount
Frame size 14 x 11 cm
SOLD