Antique Silhouette of R.M. Blamey Holding a Phrenology Skull. Hubard Gallery Trade Label No. 8. Framer's Trade Label on Verso.

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

This is one of the most unusual silhouette subjects I’ve run across. This Hubard Gallery silhouette is inscribed “R.M. Blamey / May 24th 1839/ Aet 22 yrs & 1 Day”. Young Mr. Blamey gazes at a phrenology skull in his hand, while standing amidst the disarray of his study. The skull marked with numbered sections which phrenology taught were the areas of the brain responsible for different brain functions. On the far left of the watercolor background, a well defined bust statue sits on a mantel. Blamey’s top hat sits on a table. Before the table (at the left edge of the background) we see a book standing open on a post style lectern. Charts are pinned to the wall. Book shelves are lined with leather bound books and something lays broken on the floor. Two Sheraton period chairs with upholstered seats and delicate outwardly turned faux bamboo legs sit against the far wall. Blamey’s umbrella leans next to the closed door and his cloak hangs from the mantel wall. Blamey wears a coat with tails. His hair and cravat are richly embellished in gold. The silhouette bears the impressed signature “Taken at the Hubard Gallery” that McKechnie refers to as Trade Label No. 8. The silhouette resides in the original bird’s-eye maple frame with a flat profile. The back of the frame bears a framer’s trade label “T. Barlow / Carver, Gilder / Picture Looking Glass Frame / Maker / 4 King Street, Truro / Ornamented Frames made to Order.” Also glued to the frame backboard is a photocopy of a handbill for the Hubard Gallery while the Gallery was set up in Truro. Framed size is 10” x 12 ¾”. I have found records showing that a Richard Blamey was born in 1817 in Truro, married in 1849 and again in 1853, and died in 1888 (the death record shows that this Richard was born "abt. 1813"). My problem is that my subscription to Ancestry.com allows me to look at the index of found UK records but not the records themselves so I can't see enough detail to assure that the Richard Blamey I'm finding is the R.M. Blamey of the silhouette. I suspect that the birth and death dates are correct, but if I could see the marriage record and find the wife's name then I could find out more. Wish I could find out more because I'd love to know what Mr. Blamey, the phrenologist, actually did for a living!

McKechnie tells us that Hubard's early manager, Mr. Smith, continued to run the Hubard Gallery as a going concern until about 1845. We know that Master Jarvis (or Jervis) Hankes (or Hanks) was cutting silhouettes for the Hubard Gallery before Hubard broke with Smith. McKechnie believed that Hankes continued with the Gallery for some years after Hubard left. McKechnie also found evidence that Samuel Thomas Gill advertised himself as having at one time worked for the Hubard Gallery.

This is an excellent silhouette worthy of any collection. I can't imagine that you will ever find another with such an unusual subject matter. But for expected toning of the paper, it is in excellent condition.

(#4578) Sale Pending

Please see the Silhouettist Biographies page for more information about the Hubard Gallery

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