Item Ref. 2292

READING POETRY

This is a small three-quarter length portrait of a young blue-eyed lady holding a tiny leatherbound book. She is wearing a reddish-brown dress with wide puffy sleeves (known as demi-gigot sleeves) that contrast with the narrowness of her waistline. She has a brooch on her corsage, gold hoop earrings and a string of coral beads. The ribbons on her bonnet have been leaft untied.

Watercolour on card, circa 1825. Inscribed on the reverse.

Unframed Size: 41/8 x 3½" (116 x 88mm)

Price: £120

Item Ref. 2161a

PRETTY IN PINK

This is the first of a small series of mid-nineteenth century fashion watercolours painted by a fashion-conscious young English lady known only be her initials E.W. Here she is seen in an extravagant off-the-shoulder ball dress with a wide tiered skirt that emphasises her slender waistline. Her hair is dressed with a black bandeau topped with a white plume.

Watercolour on card, dated 1861 on the reverse.

Unframed Size: 4½ x 3" (114 x 77mm)

Price: £35

Click images to enlarge

Item Ref. 2161b

WALKING OUT

This is another mid-nineteenth century fashion watercolour painted by our fashion-conscious young lady, E.W., possibly as a memento of her or a friend's favourite outfits. This time she is wearing an outdoor dress in Royal blue with a black coat trimmed with aronf the tail, sleeves and collar with a deep swathe of lace. Her hair is swept back and neeted and is topped with a small pill-box hat. She also has on kid gloves and is holding a glass on a long guard chain.

Watercolour on card, dated 1861 on the reverse.

Unframed Size: 4½ x 3" (114 x 77mm)

Price: £35

Item Ref. 2161c

GOING TO THE BALL

This time our fashionable young lady known is wearing a formal black ball gown trimmed with delicate white lace with a red rose on her corsage. She has a black and gold choker necklace and is carrying a posy of roses and a closed fan in her gloved hands. Her hair is elegantly dressed for the occasion and decorated with a spray of flowers.

Watercolour on card, signed with the initials EW and dated 1861 on the reverse.

Unframed Size: 4½ x 3" (114 x 77mm)

Price: £35

Item Ref. 2161d

READY FOR THE WEATHER

On this occasion our well-dressed young lady looks as if she may be about to go for a bracing walk along the seafront at Folkestone. Her fashionably wide skirt is worn with a toie blouse and balck cape trimmed with gold braid and lined in red. She has a matching pill-box hat topped with a red flower and is carrying a rolled-up umbrella.

Watercolour on card, inscribed Folkestone and dated 1860 on the reverse.

Unframed Size: 4½ x 3" (114 x 77mm)

Price: £35