Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
The silhouette is set in a gold plated frame with a blue glass surround. The reverse is glazed to show an exquisite and immaculate display of hairwork in two shades with gold wire and seed pearls on pink foiled opalescent glass, the initials DB laid on a central blue glass oval.
Traditionally the sitter has been catalogued as Margery Bingham but the initials reverse gainsay that; it seems safe to assume though that her surname is Bingham.
John Butterworth was a second generation engraver and seal cutter. His venture into silhouette painting may have been influenced by John Miers who was living and working in the same area of Leeds. Butterworth’s body of work is small but of great merit.
There is slight dust under the front glass and a teeny spot of paint loss visible by her ear. This is nonetheless a very fine example by a rarely seen artist.
Size: Profile, 40mm ; framed, 76mm + bail
Provenance: Christie Collection; acquired in November 1946 from W. J. (Polly) Perkins
Literature: McKechnie, British Silhouette Artists and their Work, illus pp. 52 & 694
APHA Registration: CAN9RKGW
Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Small portraiture of character & historical interest
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Wigs on the Green Profile Page
Silhouette Locket by John Butterworth, Circa 1790
