Antique Pair of Framed Wax Portrait Reliefs of Mr and Mrs W H Blaauw 19th C

A superb pair of wax portrait reliefs by Richard Cockle Lucas, British, 1800-1883, in convex glazed giltwood frames,  Circa 1850 in date.

The wax portraits are of Mr and Mrs W H Blaauw, dated 1851 and 1852, Mr Blaauw depicted wearing a coat, Mrs Blaauw with her hair in a chignon and ringlets, each on brown wax ground, the gentleman's inscribed on the ground R C Lucas W H Blaauw F.S.A. Beechland Sussex 1852, the lady's ground inscribed R C Lucas Mrs Blaauw Beechland Sussex 1851, 

 

Provenance:

Bonhams, New Bond Street, Sale No. 31218 Fine Portrait Miniatures, 5 November 2002, lot 2. 

Note:

Richard Cockle Lucas (1800-1883) is predominantly known as a sculptor in wax, but he also worked in glass, marble and bronze, as well as being a painter.  He began his career as a sculptor as an apprentice to his uncle, who worked as a cutler in Winchester, carving knife handles.  He joined the Royal Academy Schools in 1828 and studied under Richard Westmacott.  He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1829 and 1859 and showed his work at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 33 cm x Width 23 cm x Depth 3.5 cm  - Frames

Height 14 cm  - Height of wax reliefs

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot, 1 inch x Width 9 inches x Depth 1 inch - Frames

Height 5 inches - Height of wax reliefs

Wax Portraits

Wax is one of the earliest known media 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: A5354