Current Location: In storage
Titles
Unknown Lady
Maker(s)
Miniaturist:
Smart, John
Silversmith:
Unknown
Entities
Categories
Description
Mother-of-pearl and engraved silver case with a magnifying glass and a portrait miniature painted in watercolour on ivory
Mother-of-pearl and engraved silver case with a magnifying glass and a portrait miniature in watercolour on ivory under glass. Each side of the silver lorgnette-shaped case is set with an oval mother-of-pearl plaque. Beneath is a short silver handle which is engraved on each side with leaves and flowers on a striated ground. Above the plaque is a silver arch, which is also engraved with leaves and flowers on a striated ground. From this two oval silver loops are articulated; they fold beneath the mother-of-pearl plaques into the body of the case. One loop contains a magnifying glass, the other contains an oval portrait of a lady. She faces three-quarters to the right; her dark brown hair is plaited and coiled at the back of her head. She wears a low cut pale pink dress edged with lace and yellow ribbon and pearls. The background is painted blue-grey. Just above the lady's left arm the miniature is initialled and dated 'JS 1761'. On the back of the miniature is an oval mother-of-pearl plaque inlaid with a star-shaped pattern of gold piqué dots.
Notes
History note: Not known before testator
Legal notes
L.C.G. Clarke Bequest, 1960
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1960-12-13)
by
Clarke, Louis Colville Gray
Dating
18th Century, Mid
George III
19th Century
1761
CE
-
1800
CE
-
1900
CE
Note
The miniature was painted in 1761. The case does not bear a maker's mark or any hallmarks, but was probably made in the 19th century.
School or Style
British
Components of the work
Painting
composed of
watercolour
Plaques
composed of
mother-of-pearl
Case
composed of
silver
Height 1.7 cm
Length 9.2 cm
Width 1.7 cm
Miniature
composed of
ivory
Height 44 mm
Width 35 mm
Cover
composed of
glass
Techniques used in production
Watercolour
: Silver case engraved and set with mother-of-pearl plaques, the two articulated arms contain a watercolour painted on ivory and a magnifying glass
Inscription or legends present
- Text: JS 1791
- Location: Above the lady's left arm, near the rim of the miniature
- Method of creation: Black paint
- Type: Signature and date
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: M.94-1961
Primary reference Number: 18208
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Monday 18 December 2023
Last processed: Monday 18 December 2023
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
