Regent Antiques has dated these Grand Tour Wax Reliefs to the 19th Century.
Provenance:
Bonhams, New Bond Street, 28 June 2005, lot 28.
Literature:
Mr. Luke Foreman and the Empire Style, Country Life, 10 May 1930, p. 694-697.
Note:
Luke Foreman (1757-1814) was a prosperous merchant who ran a general import/export business in Portugal specialising in Spanish wine. Between 1802 and 1804 he and his wife, Mary (neé Chandler) (1764?-1834), travelled on the continent acquiring numerous paintings and works of art
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 11 cm x Width 20 cm x Depth 2 cm - Case
Height 7 cm - Portraits Height
Dimensions in inches:
Height 4 inches x Width 8 inches x Depth 1 inch - Case
Height 3 inches - Portraits Height
Wax Portraits
Wax is one of the earliest known mediums for portraiture. Miniature wax portraits executed in bas-relief were exceedingly popular from the mid 18th century until the introduction and popularization of photography in the 1840’s. The portraits were generally intended for reproduction in small quantities by use of a plaster mold for the sitter's family, but larger quantities were made of popular heroes with a wider appeal. The finished portrait, usually under 4" and in shallow relief, was mounted on reverse-painted glass, wax-covered plaster, or a sheet of wax and then framed.
Josiah Wedgwood took advantage of the popularity of the wax portraits and hired modelers to create over two thousand images to be reproduced in jasper ware. The resulting medallions pictured the crowned heads of Europe, the Emperors of Rome, and his "illustrious moderns".
Our reference: A5355
Regent Antiques has dated these Grand Tour Wax Reliefs to the 19th Century.
We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
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Antique Pair of Framed Grand Tour Wax Portrait Reliefs 19th C
