Americana & Folk Art
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Peggy McClard Antiques Americana & Folk Art |
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This is a really lovely 18th century silhouette miniature pendant in
gold frame with hair to the verso, in it's original leather case, with
John Miers' original trade label in the case. Painted on ivory,
this woman wears a bonnet, depicted with the wonderful featheriness that
could only come from John Miers Studio. Similarly, the edges of
her dress, tucker and collar all depict the featheriness that makes John
Miers considered the best 18th century profile painter of England.
The ivory is in perfect condition, as is the image. The signature
"Miers" is a tiny bit blurred, indicating to me that the ivory
has been cleaned and, unfortunately, the cleaner wiped the signature
just a bit. The gold case is also perfect. The hair on the
verso is a mixture of brown and grey--certainly the lady's own hair
which was turning grey. Also included in the hair receptacle are
well formed gold initials "SL". Original convex glass is
present and in great condition on both sides of the pendant. The
pendant resides in its original red leather carrying case. The
leather has appropriate scuffing (very little scuffing really).
The brass hinge and latch are present and working. A notch was cut
in the top so that the pendant hanger does not stop the case from
closing. The interior is lined with ivory colored silk. Also
included in the case is Miers' original paper trade label. This
label is very similar to the label that McKechnie refers to as No. 17
(used 1791-c. 1800). However, unlike the oval shaped No. 17, this
label has cut corners....a lead up to No. 18 (c. 1810-c. 1823) which had
notched corners, the same wording with a different placement of the
words. So, we might presume that this label would have been used
circa 1795 - circa 1810. By 1791, Miers had hired several artists
to help him keep up with the demand for his profiles. John Field
started to work for Miers in 1793. All artists in Miers Studio
signed their work "Miers". John Field was the most talented
of Miers' hired artists. His work closely mimics Miers' own.
Field's work has a sharp dip in the back of the bust line termination
(as did Miers' own work). Both Field and Miers had a strong
curvature at the front of the bust line termination, but Field's bust
line terminations tended to flow a bit farther to the front and have a
less pronounced dip. This lovely lady is attributed to John Field,
under Miers' supervision. Also, but this time, Miers' son William
Miers was doing the goldwork for the Studio and likely made this pendant
and the lovely script letters in the verso. The pendant measures 1
3/4" x 1 3/8". Finding these lovely pendants in their original
cases with trade labels scarcely happens. Finding one with such
beautifully plaited hair and a fine gold monogram is quite scare indeed.
This is a real find! (#5026) $1250
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peggy@peggymcclard.com with
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Copyright © 2012 Peggy McClard Antiques
