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Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham
Sold by Wigs on the Green
sold SA1112945
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2020
Browse dealers 83 items
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    Small portraiture of character & historical interest
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Id #SA1112945
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Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham

18th century
Sold 11 December 2024 · Wigs on the Green
This “Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham” found a buyer.

It was listed by Wigs on the Green. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

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Description

This very fine example of Mrs Beetham’s work shows a seated lady named Mrs Crook wearing a dress with a laced bodice and a puffed-out buffon. Her hair is curled on top and arranged in the distinctive ‘three ringlets’ style, a short-lived fashion that dates the profile to the 1780s.

Reverse painted on convex glass and backed with plaster within a verre églomisé border, the silhouette is housed in the original turned pearwood frame with the artist’s trade label no. 5 on the reverse. The verre églomisé border was likely painted by her husband, Edward, as he had travelled to Murano around this time to study glass painting. Both silhouette and frame are in excellent condition.

Isabella Beetham began cutting silhouettes out of necessity to support her young family and was fortunate to be taught painting during the early 1780s by John Smart, the acclaimed miniaturist. Her husband meantime was a dabbler: he tried acting on stage, he designed a theatre safety curtain, he took in lodgers, he built and sold new-fangled washing machines, he offered insurance cover and so on.

Framed Size: 195 x 170mm

Provenance: Sotheby's July 1983 ; Martin Willcocks sale, Phillips 1998

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Georgian Silhouette on Glass to the 18th Century.

Physical Dimensions
Height
19.5cm (7.68")
Width
17cm (6.69")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1112945
Dealers Internal Reference
7619
Dealers Notes

All prices include UK postage. International shipping will be at cost.

Description
This very fine example of Mrs Beetham’s work shows a seated lady named Mrs Crook wearing a dress with a laced bodice and a puffed-out buffon.
“
Her hair is curled on top and arranged in the distinctive ‘three ringlets’ style, a short-lived fashion that dates the profile to the 1780s.
Wigs on the Green
fig 1. An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border.
fig 1. Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham

Reverse painted on convex glass and backed with plaster within a verre églomisé border, the silhouette is housed in the original turned pearwood frame with the artist’s trade label no. 5 on the reverse. The verre églomisé border was likely painted by her husband, Edward, as he had travelled to Murano around this time to study glass painting. Both silhouette and frame are in excellent condition.

fig 2. An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border.
fig 2. Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham

Isabella Beetham began cutting silhouettes out of necessity to support her young family and was fortunate to be taught painting during the early 1780s by John Smart, the acclaimed miniaturist. Her husband meantime was a dabbler: he tried acting on stage, he designed a theatre safety curtain, he took in lodgers, he built and sold new-fangled washing machines, he offered insurance cover and so on.

Framed Size: 195 x 170mm

Provenance: Sotheby's July 1983 ; Martin Willcocks sale, Phillips 1998

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Georgian Silhouette on Glass to the 18th Century.

Height
19.5cm (7.68")
Width
17cm (6.69")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1112945
Dealers Internal Ref
7619
Wigs on the Green
Wigs on the Green
Sellingantiques verified Since May 2020

Small portraiture of character & historical interest

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Wigs on the Green Profile Page

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An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 8
Archive I An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham

Archive II An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View II
Archive III An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View III
Archive IV An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View IV
Archive V An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View V
Archive VI An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View VI
Archive VII An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View VII
Archive VIII An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border. View VIII
Enlarged Archival View
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green
Telephone 07962 257915
Location
York
Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/wigsonthegreen
Verified Since May 2020
Items For Sale 83
Items Sold 319
Wigs on the Green
Wigs on the Green
Verified Since May 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/wigsonthegreen
Verified
May 2020
For Sale
83
Sold
319
An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border.
Excellent Silhouette on Glass by Isabella Beetham
Ref: SA1112945
An antique oval silhouette portrait on glass featuring a womans profile, set within a deep turned wooden frame with a gilt leaf border.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectWall Art
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialGlass, Wood, Gilt
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsProfile portrait, Gilt leaf border, Turned wooden frame, Convex glass
  • SizeH 19.5 cm (8 in) x W 17 cm (7 in)

FAQs

A silhouette on glass is a profile portrait typically painted in black pigment on the reverse side of convex glass, often backed with white plaster or silk to create contrast, gaining immense popularity in the late 18th century.

Traditional frames for these miniatures were often crafted from turned fruitwood such as pear or mahogany, featuring convex protective glass and hand-painted gilt brass bezels or verre eglomise borders.

Authentic pieces typically exhibit period-appropriate turned wood frames, hand-cut paper or delicate reverse-painted details with fine brushwork, patinated backing materials, and old handmade fixing pins rather than modern fasteners.

These pieces work effectively when grouped in small gallery walls alongside other framed works, or placed on narrow wall spaces and mantels to introduce historical depth and intimate scale to a modern room.

To preserve these delicate items, keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of the pigments and backing materials, and maintain stable indoor humidity levels to protect the antique wood and glass.
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