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ID #SA1192401
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Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820
Sold by Shaun King Antiques
sold SA1192401
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Shaun King Antiques

Shaun King Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2013
Browse dealers 352 items
  • About Us
    Third generation antiques dealer selling a wide range of large and small antiques pre 1920.
Id #SA1192401
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Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820

19th century
Sold 29 October 2026 · Shaun King Antiques
This “Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820” found a buyer.

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

See more portrait miniature for sale Ask the dealer for something similar
Description

This RARE SET OF REGENCY PAINTINGS date from circa 1820.

Painted on card, the oval portrait comes with 14 cut-out overlays painted with different costumes each of which can be placed over the portrait to form a transformational image.

Twelve of the overlays have handwritten titles to the back:- Charity Girl, Mary Queen of Scots, Circassian, Polish, Gipsy, Turkish, Virgin of the Sun, Old English, Vandyke, Bohemian, Costume of the York Nunnery and Russian.

The card painted with Mary Queen of Scots is embossed to one corner with the Paper Maker’s Mark of Bally Ellen and Steart, Bath Lino Stereo Tablet. These were Paper Manufacturers from de Montalt Mills near Bath (1805-1830) who made most of the coloured paper used by J.M.W. Turner.

An amazing and historically interesting Set of Paintings

Measurement of Portrait:

4 inches (10 cm) by 3.75 inches (9.5 cm).

Express delivery within the UK is included. Please email for Overseas Shipping.

Date of Manufacture

Shaun King Antiques has dated this Regency Costume Overlay Portrait to the Regency era.

Independent Date Check ID 09346807
Dealer's Item DateRegency era
Sellingantiques DateRegency era
Sellingantiques agingItem 195-220 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE REGENCY ERA:
Costume titles penned in brown ink on reverse: early nineteenth-century cursive hand.
Short curly cropped coiffure on profile: popular female fashion of the Regency.
Hand-painted watercolours on cut wove card: classic parlour transformation game of the period.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
6.5cm (2.56")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1192401
Dealers Notes

We are a family business of three generations going back to the 1920s. Customer satisfaction is what we strive for.

Payment can be made by Bank Transfer or by the PayPal button, either as a member or a guest, using any major credit or debit card.

Please contact for Inland and Overseas Shipping costs unless otherwise stated on the individual item description.

Description
This RARE SET OF REGENCY PAINTINGS date from circa 1820.
“
Painted on card, the oval portrait comes with 14 cut-out overlays painted with different costumes each of which can be placed over the portrait to form a transformational image.
Shaun King Antiques
fig 1. A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures.
fig 1. Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820

Twelve of the overlays have handwritten titles to the back:- Charity Girl, Mary Queen of Scots, Circassian, Polish, Gipsy, Turkish, Virgin of the Sun, Old English, Vandyke, Bohemian, Costume of the York Nunnery and Russian.

fig 2. A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures.
fig 2. Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820

The card painted with Mary Queen of Scots is embossed to one corner with the Paper Maker’s Mark of Bally Ellen and Steart, Bath Lino Stereo Tablet. These were Paper Manufacturers from de Montalt Mills near Bath (1805-1830) who made most of the coloured paper used by J.M.W. Turner.

fig 3. A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures.
fig 3. Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820

An amazing and historically interesting Set of Paintings

Measurement of Portrait:

4 inches (10 cm) by 3.75 inches (9.5 cm).

Express delivery within the UK is included. Please email for Overseas Shipping.

Date of Manufacture

Shaun King Antiques has dated this Regency Costume Overlay Portrait to the Regency era.

Independent Date Report ID 09346807
Dealer's Item DateRegency era
Sellingantiques datingRegency era
Sellingantiques agingItem 195-220 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the Regency era:
Costume titles penned in brown ink on reverse: early nineteenth-century cursive hand.
Short curly cropped coiffure on profile: popular female fashion of the Regency.
Hand-painted watercolours on cut wove card: classic parlour transformation game of the period.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
6.5cm (2.56")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1192401
Shaun King Antiques
Shaun King Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2013

Third generation antiques dealer selling a wide range of large and small antiques pre 1920.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Shaun King Antiques Profile Page

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A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. SOLD29 OCT 26
1 / 14
Archive I A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. SOLD29 OCT 26

Rare Regency Portrait with 14 Costume Overlays C1820

Archive II A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View II
Archive III A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View III
Archive IV A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View IV
Archive V A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View V
Archive VI A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View VI
Archive VII A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View VII
Archive VIII A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View VIII
Archive IX A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View IX
Archive X A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View X
Archive XI A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View XI
Archive XII A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View XII
Archive XIII A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View XIII
Archive XIV A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. View XIV
Enlarged Archival View
Shaun King Antiques

Shaun King Antiques
Telephone 01953 453 285 or 07702 043910
Location
Attleborough
Norfolk
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/shaunkingantiques
Verified Since Feb 2013
Items For Sale 352
Items Sold 1,406
Shaun King Antiques
Shaun King Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2013
View Dealer Info
Location: Attleborough , Norfolk, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/shaunkingantiques
Verified
Feb 2013
For Sale
352
Sold
1,406
A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures.
RARE REGENCY PORTRAIT WITH 14 COSTUME OVERLAYS c1820
Ref: SA1192401
A Regency watercolour profile portrait of a woman surrounded by fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectPortrait Miniature
  • Period19th century
  • StyleRegency
  • MaterialPaper, Watercolour, Gouache
  • ColourMulticoloured
  • MotifsProfile portrait, Cut-out apertures, Hand-painted attire, Interchangeable overlays
  • SizeH 10 cm (4 in) x W 6.5 cm (3 in)

This Regency period portrait miniature dates from circa 1820 and includes fourteen hand-painted paper costume overlays with cut-out apertures. The set comprises an oval watercolour and gouache profile portrait of a woman with brown hair, alongside fourteen individual cards decorated with multicoloured attire including red, blue, green, black and yellow pigments. Twelve of the overlays feature handwritten titles to the reverse, and the card for Mary Queen of Scots displays an embossed paper maker's mark in one corner. The individual portrait card measures 10 cm high by 6.5 cm wide. This transformational artwork provides a desktop or wall-mounted display option for a narrow wall space in a study, library or drawing room. Collectors can place each interchangeable overlay over the central profile to reveal a different historical or cultural costume, such as a Charity Girl, Mary Queen of Scots, Circassian, Polish, Gipsy, Turkish, Virgin of the Sun, Old English, Vandyke, Bohemian, York Nunnery or Russian dress.

FAQs

A metamorphic portrait is an interactive novelty artwork popular during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It features a central miniature portrait accompanied by multiple cut-out paper or mica overlays depicting various outfits and headwear, allowing the owner to change the sitters costume.

These sets were executed on fine hand-laid paper or thin mica sheets using watercolour and gouache pigments. The costume overlays featured precise hand-cut apertures for the face and neck to seamlessly reveal the central painted portrait beneath.

Authentic pieces display hand-painted watercolour details, period-appropriate pigments, natural paper aging or foxing, and fine hand-cut edges on the apertures. Period costume styles typically mirror the fashions of the Georgian and Regency eras, ranging from regional dresses to military attire.

A set of overlays is best preserved and displayed by float-mounting the pieces inside custom museum-quality frames with UV-protective glass. Grouping the central portrait and its attire in a grid creation on a gallery wall provides an intriguing historical focal point.

Keep paper works away from direct sunlight, fluorescent lighting, and areas of high humidity or fluctuating temperatures. Always use acid-free, archival mounting materials and consult a professional paper conservator for cleaning or stabilization.
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