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Item Ref. 3646

STUDIO OF MIERS AND FIELD

This is a fine quality silhouette showing an unnamed gentleman from the Stainforth Family. He is wearing a double-breasted coat over a frilled chemise and deep stock.

The silhouette is painted on ivory and is expertly bronzed with a lot of fine detailing. It is signed 'Miers' under the bust-line and is set in a traditional papier-mâché frame with a gilt-metal mount and elongated leaf hanger.

Framed size: 4¼ x 37/8" (110 x 98mm)

Price: £475

 

Item Ref. 3729

W. BARNES, active 1840s

This is a pretty full-length silhouette of a young lady holding a love letter. Her dress has a pleated bodice, a full skirt and Victoria sleeves that are puffed around the elbow and decorated with two buttons. She is also wearing a lovely bonnet that is trimmed with flowers and tied under the chin with ribbon with a lace-edged flap at the back to accommodate the lady's hair style.

The silhouette has been cut out and is finely gilded, with a touch of watercolour on the bonnet. It is signed and dated in pencil 'By W. Barnes/ 1843'. There is a small bruise to the paper in the bottom left corner but otherwise the condition is excellent. It is set in a period bird's eye maple frame with old bubbled glass.

Framed size: 12½ x 10½" (320 x 265mm)

S O L D !

In her book British Silhouette Artists and their Work, Sue McKechnie records two bust-length silhouettes cut in 1842 by an artist named R. W. Barnes and it seems probable that this silhouette is by the same hand.

 

Item Ref. 3633

AUGUSTIN EDOUART, 1789-1861

This is a fine example of the skilled workmanship of the celebrated silhouettist Augustin Edouart depicting a gentleman wearing an academic gown over a tail-coat. He appears to be holding a pair of gloves in his clasped hands. As before, the profile is exceptionally well cut - note especially the eyebrow in addition to the eyelash as well as the collar line and the single buttonhole. The profile is inscribed in pencil on the reverse with the sitter's name - Frederick Thackeray MD, Cambridge.

Frederick Thackeray was the son of Thomas Thackeray, one of the original surgeons to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge in 1766. Frederick succeeded his father as a surgeon in 1796 and later qualified as a physician, transferring from the surgical staff to the medical staff in 1827. He was the brother of William Makepeace Thackeray, author of the much-loved classic novel Vanity Fair.

The silhouette is signed: 'Augn Edouart fecit 1828' and is set in what appears to be the original handsome bird's eye maple veneer frame with gilt slip. The silhouette is in excellent condition though the frame has two old wormholes on the front.

Framed size: 14 x 101/8" (186 x 148mm)

Price: £650

As an ex-Bonapartist claiming asylum in Britain, Augustin Edouart discovered by chance, when he was challenged by a friend at a dinner-party, that he had a natural aptitude for cutting likenesses, so much so that he made a successful career of it. He toured extensively throughout the British Isles for several years cutting many hundreds of profiles including some well-known figures of the day including authors, musicians, politicians and royalty. He then set sail for New York where he was likewise in demand and where he toured successfully for ten years before deciding to retire to his native home in 1849. He nearly didn't make it as his ship went down in a storm off Guernsey. Fortunately the passengers were all rescued but Edouart lost much of his precious archive of work and the will to continue with his work thereafter.

 

Item Ref. 3159

J. THOMASON, active 1786-ca.1800

This is a finely painted 18th century family group of three silhouette portraits showing Mr & Mrs Will Donald and their daughter Jean. Mr Donald is depicted in a distinctive bag wig; the ladies are both wearing dresses with fashionable buffoons. Mrs Donald is also wearing an indoor dormeuse cap with a ribbon trim while the younger lady wears her hair in long free tresses.

The profiles are painted on plaster and housed in the original hammered brass frames each inscribed on the reverse with two of them dated 1794.

Provenance: Moir Collection.
Literature: Sue McKechnie, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860 - page 675, plates 1412-1415.
Framed size: 41/8 x 37/8" (120 x 100mm)

S O L D !

J. Thomason is known to have worked in the north of England and in Dublin though these profiles suggest he may also have travelled to Scotland.

 

Item Ref. 3627

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1830

This is a painted and gilded silhouette portrait of Margaret as a child in a dress with wide sleeves, her short hair decorated with a little bow over her ear.

The profile is housed in the original papier-mâché frame with a brass surround and a star and leaf hanger.

Framed size: 5½ x 4½" (137 x 114mm)

Price: £145

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