Wigs on the Green - Portrait Miniatures, Silhouettes, Portraits & Provincial Art

Enquiries and orders: enquiries@wigsonthegreen.co.uk Images can be enlarged by clicking on them	GALLIMAUFRY = a medley; 'a wonderful hotch-potch'

Item Ref. 4104

A Broad Hint, circa 1810

This is a superb social caricature depicting a rejected suitor at an Assembly Room dance. The suitor, a bit of a macaroni in white breeches and a blue tail-coat, has just asked a young lady to dance but she, with a look of disdain, has not only refused him but has hurriedly picked up her chair and rushed away from him, even tearing the flowers around the tail of her dress in her distress. The contre temps has amused the two wallflowers seated by the fireplace as they watch to see what will happen next. Meanwhile all the other dancers in the background appear to be engaged in a frantic cotillion.

The drawing contains wonderful detail from the ladies' elaborate hair styles and the fashions to the décor of the room.

Pen, ink and watercolour entitled along the bottom "A Broad Hint of not Meaning to Dance" and signed with the initials C.G. There are some scattered spots to the drawing (clearly visible in the enlarged image) but otherwise the condition is excellent. It is housed in a beautiful bird's eye maple veneer frame with a replacement gilt slip.

Framed size: 12½ x 17¾" (315 x 454mm)

Price: £700

During the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, dance floor etiquette was very important for a young lady who wanted to make a successful marriage. Not only did she need to be able to dance well and have excellent posture, but she was expected to be familiar with all the rules of etiquette. The only acceptable excuse in refusing a dance was when a lady had already promised the next set to another gentleman, or if she had grown tired in which case she would then be expected to sit out the rest of the evening. Anyone who has read Evelina by Fanny Burney will recall the pickle Evelina got herself in at her first London dance when she made the social faux pas of refusing to dance with the odious Willoughby.

Click images to enlarge

Item Ref. 4103

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1810

Although drawn by a different hand, this smaller watercolour is the perfect companion piece to the above as it depicts a young lady who appears happy to accept a dance with the dashing young suitor who has brought a blush to her cheeks. The dance is probably taking place at the local Assembly Rooms where the young ladies are being supervised by their elderly chaperones, like the two ladies seated at the back enjoying a gossip over a cup of tea. Again the watercolour contains wonderful fashion details of the Regency period.

Unsigned pen, ink & watercolour in fine condition. It is housed in a beautiful bird's eye maple veneer frame with a replacement gilt slip.

Framed size: 10¾ x 14¾" (286 x 374mm)

Price: £600

Assembly Rooms were the hub of fashionable Georgian society in country towns such as York or Bath. Public dances were held weekly during the season and this is where the gentlemen and young ladies courted, often conversing during their long sets without seeming to be too forward. Dancing was an important social event and complicated dance steps were practised with dancing masters. At the start of each dance it was the custom for the lady to curtsey to her partner and for the gentleman to respond with a bow.

Item Ref. 4221

W. TAYLOR

This is a wonderful original drawing that gives a snapshot of a street scene in Swinton. Centrestage and raised high above the surrounding buildings is the imposing Wesleyan Chapel with its stone columns and arched windows. To one side is a row of small thatched cottages whilst on the other side is a splendid gentleman's residence with a front portico and tall brick chimneys. Village life is going on in the foreground: a horse-drawn carriage rolling past, well-dressed couples strolling along, tiny children playing with hoops, and a man with a barrow.

My research has failed to confirm whether the chapel is still standing today. The UK road atlas lists five Swintons, one in Scotland, three in Yorkshire and one (the most likely location) near Manchester.

Pen, ink and watercolour set in a handsome bird's eye maple veneer frame with a (now tarnished and slightly damaged) gilt slip. The painting itslef has a small area of browning to the right of the chapel but is otherwise in fine condition. Two clipped labels on the backing board date it to April 1849 and give the artist's name.

Framed Size: 103/8 x 101/8" (265 x 406mm)

Price: £375

All images can be enlarged by clicking on them

Item Ref. 4117

E. REAVES, 19th century

There are few things more spectacular to look at than a bluebell wood in full bloom and this small watercolour depicting a single stem of a bluebell flower is a constant reminder of that beauty.

The watercolour is signed E. Reaves. It is set in a deep and beautifully figured bird's eye maple frame with a flat profile.

Framed Size: 77/8 x 8¼" (226 x 211mm)

Price: £120

Item Ref. 2386 THE PIG WITH THE CURLY TAIL! This is a curious little painted metal model of a pig with a curly tail. It has some age to it and may have been used as a counter ornament in a butcher's shop. He stands just 2¾" high by 3¾". Price: £45

Item Ref. 3424

FRIEDRICH WILHELM HEINRICH THEODOR HOSEMANN, (1807-1875)

This is a really hilarious little piece depicting two gentlemen, one of them rather red-faced, in a tight embrace with each other. Both are most elegantly attired in tail-coats and breeches and have fantastic hair-styles. For some odd reason one of them appears to be holding two spoons.

The drawing is worked in pen, ink and watercolour and is inscribed at length on the reverse in German. It has a card mount with watercolour rules and is set in a giltwood frame which is glazed on the reverse on reveal the inscription. There is a professional repair to the bottom right hand corner but otherwise the condition is fine.

Framed Size: 6½ x 6¾" (164 x 170mm)

S O L D !

Friedrich Theodor Hosemann was a well-known German artist born in Brandenburg in 1807.

Item Ref. 1250 This cute little nineteenth century pin cushion has been hand-made in the shape of a jockey's cap with a peak. It is in excellent condition with just a touch of wear on the base. Size: 13/4" (45mm) max. length Price: £75

Item Ref. 3453d

This is a star-shaped patchwork pin cushion. It's another early 19th century example and features silk fabrics in earth colours of taupe, brown, green and ivory.

The ivory silk has perished on both centrepieces and on a couple of the points on one side. This in itself is interesting as it reveals the card base that was used by the young seamstress to shape the piece. Fortunately the contents of the cushion are intact and the pincushion remains firm and in good overall shape.

Size: 17/8" (48mm) max.

Price: £35

Item Ref. 3453a

This is an early nineteenth century patchwork pin cushion in the form of a star made from coloured silks with a red velvet centrepiece. It retains some of the original steel pins.

Traditionally these small pin cushions were made by young ladies using remnants of their own dress fabrics and would often become a memento of a favourite gown or one made for a special occasion.

The piece is a little dust-soiled but free of holes or other damage.

Size: 33/8" (86mm) max.

Price: £55

Item Ref. 1544

Bilbille & Co., 1908-1934

A sample book with approx. 100 pages holding approx. 650 original fabric samples from Bilbille & Co., Paris dating mostly from 1933 and 1934 but with a third of them from 1908 to 1910. The fabrics include linens, silks, shot taffetas, moires, velvets, watered silks, artificial silks, crepe satins, tweeds, rayons, and raw silks in glorious colours and patterns. Even spun rayon and goat hair! There are checks, tartans, stripes, spots, pinstripes, sprigs etc.

The swatches vary in size averaging 3 x 4" and are pasted on to one side of lightweight paper, max. 8 to a page with company reference numbers stamped above the later samples. Interleaved with 16 sales letters from Bilbille detailing the composition of the fabrics, which are tipped to be the season's favourite, and which fashion houses have already adopted certain fabrics for their season's couture.

Mostly in good condition though a small proportion of samples are soiled or creased. The background paper has browned and chipped round the edges and is brittle. The majority of the fabrics are still fresh and bright. A computer-produced label on the outside of the binder gives the provenance as R.G.S. (H) Ltd, an old Yorkshire mill.

Price: £500

Item Ref. 3453e

This is a charming little hexagonal pin cushion made from a selection of fabrics from a young lady's day dresses. One side features pinks and greens whilst the other features a strong red and a lovely grey sprigged with red. The original steel pins remain round the edges.

One side of this cushion is in good condition but one of the fabrics on the reverse side has virtually disappeared revealing the card base. There are also three small holes visible on the patterned fabric. The pin cushion is none the less charming though!

Size: 21/2" (65mm) max.

Price: £30

Go back to the top

Cynthia McKinley
Wigs on the Green Fine Art, York
Tel. +44 (0)1904 794711 Mobile: 07962 257915
Email: enquiries@wigsonthegreen.co.uk