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ID #SA1023058
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Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3
Sold by Wigs on the Green
sold SA1023058
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2020
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    Small portraiture of character & historical interest
Id #SA1023058
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Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3

19th century
Sold 7 January 2026 · Wigs on the Green
This “Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3” 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.

Description

Looking rather serious, Charles James Speed was just three years old when this watercolour was painted. Too young to have been breeched, he is wearing a white dress with a lace bodice and short sleeves trimmed with blue ribbon bows and a matching blue sash, his tiny feet in dainty black shoes with ankle-straps. Charles is shown holding a pink rose by a rose-entwined column in a garden landscape.

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Born in Fulham in 1846, Charles James was the eldest of the four children born to James Speed, a butcher, and his wife Fanny Chasemore. Having helped out in his father's shop from an early age, it was inevitable that Charles James would also become a butcher. In 1878 he married Emily Jane Crute; the couple had a son who later trained as an electrician and two daughters. In the 1901 Census, Charles James is listed as a Cab Driver and ten years later, now a widower, as an Out of Work Butcher.

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The portrait resides in a handsome maple veneer frame with a typed label attached to the backing board outlining  what appears to be the portrait's descent within the family.

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Framed Size: 309 x 270mm (12 x 10½")

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Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Antique Watercolour Portrait to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions
Height
31cm (12.20")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1023058
Dealers Internal Reference
5177
Dealers Notes

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

Description
Looking rather serious, Charles James Speed was just three years old when this watercolour was painted. Too young to have been breeched, he is wearing a white dress with a lace bodice and short sleeves trimmed with blue ribbon bows and a matching blue sash, his tiny feet in dainty black shoes with ankle-straps. Charles is shown holding a pink rose by a rose-entwined column in a garden landscape.
“
Born in Fulham in 1846, Charles James was the eldest of the four children born to James Speed, a butcher, and his wife Fanny Chasemore.
Wigs on the Green

Having helped out in his father's shop from an early age, it was inevitable that Charles James would also become a butcher. In 1878 he married Emily Jane Crute; the couple had a son who later trained as an electrician and two daughters. In the 1901 Census, Charles James is listed as a Cab Driver and ten years later, now a widower, as an Out of Work Butcher.

fig 1. An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border.
fig 1. Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3

The portrait resides in a handsome maple veneer frame with a typed label attached to the backing board outlining  what appears to be the portrait's descent within the family.

Framed Size: 309 x 270mm (12 x 10½")

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Antique Watercolour Portrait to the 19th Century.

Height
31cm (12.20")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1023058
Dealers Internal Ref
5177
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 watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 6
Archive I An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3

Archive II An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. View II
Archive III An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. View III
Archive IV An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. View IV
Archive V An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. View V
Archive VI An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 07962 257915
Location
York
Yorkshire
United Kingdom
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
Verified
May 2020
For Sale
83
Sold
319
An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border.
Watercolour Portrait of Charles James Speed, Aged 3
Ref: SA1023058
An antique watercolour portrait of a young child in a wooden frame with a gilt inner border.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
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Archival Detail
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Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectFramed Art
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian & Gothic
  • MaterialPaper, Wood, Glass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsFigurative illustration, Painted landscape background, Moulded wooden frame
  • SizeH 31 cm (12 in) x W 27 cm (11 in)

Watercolour portraiture gained significant popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries as a portable and detailed medium for capturing likenesses before the widespread adoption of photography.

These works typically utilise watercolour pigments on handmade rag paper, often housed within wooden frames featuring gilt liners and glass protection.

Authenticity is assessed by examining the paper texture, watermark evidence, pigment oxidation, and the construction techniques of the mounting frame.

Historic portraits add character and depth when integrated into gallery walls or displayed singularly as a focal point against neutral walls.

To prevent fading and degradation, keep them away from direct sunlight, maintain stable humidity levels, and ensure they are framed with acid-free materials.
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