Search 0
18,300  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 12 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
12 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1141988
SOLD
Email Phone
Save
Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed
Sold by Wigs on the Green
sold SA1141988
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2020
Browse dealers 83 items
  • About Us
    Small portraiture of character & historical interest
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1141988
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed

18th century
Sold 20 May 2025 · Wigs on the Green
This “Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed” 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.

Find more for sale
Framed Miniature ArtGold Miniature FrameIvory Miniature Painting Ask the dealer for something similar
Description

Edward Burch was a man of many parts. He worked initially as a waterman ferrying people up and down the Thames in London whilst teaching himself how to engrave seals and gems. In the meantime he studied drawing at St. Martin’s Lane Academy and at the Royal Academy Schools and tried his hand at wax modelling for Josiah Wedgwood. Gem engraving though became his main line of work though he was also a competent miniaturist as evidenced by the fine draughtsmanship seen in this portrait.

Wearing a white dress tinged with pink, the frilled collar accessorised with pearls and her curled hair swept back to show off her gold and ruby earrings, the sitter is captured in an engaging and natural pose. The portrait is signed Burch on the obverse and is set in the original gold frame, the reverse beautifully styled with the initial N laid on foiled blue glass surrounded with plaited brown hair.

Despite his artistic talents, Edward Burch did not thrive well financially especially as he began to struggle with failing eyesight during the 1770s. He was elected as a Royal Academician in 1771 and appointed Academy Librarian. Burch died in February 1814 and is buried at St Pancras Parish Church.

Framed Size: 80 x 70mm

Provenance: UK Private Collection

APHA Registration: JCDZ8F2J

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Antique Miniature Portrait to the Georgian era.

Physical Dimensions
Height
8cm (3.15")
Width
7cm (2.76")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1141988
Dealers Internal Reference
GU504
Dealers Notes

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

Description
Edward Burch was a man of many parts.
“
He worked initially as a waterman ferrying people up and down the Thames in London whilst teaching himself how to engrave seals and gems.
Wigs on the Green

In the meantime he studied drawing at St. Martin’s Lane Academy and at the Royal Academy Schools and tried his hand at wax modelling for Josiah Wedgwood. Gem engraving though became his main line of work though he was also a competent miniaturist as evidenced by the fine draughtsmanship seen in this portrait.

fig 1. An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame.
fig 1. Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed

Wearing a white dress tinged with pink, the frilled collar accessorised with pearls and her curled hair swept back to show off her gold and ruby earrings, the sitter is captured in an engaging and natural pose. The portrait is signed Burch on the obverse and is set in the original gold frame, the reverse beautifully styled with the initial N laid on foiled blue glass surrounded with plaited brown hair.

fig 2. An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame.
fig 2. Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed

Despite his artistic talents, Edward Burch did not thrive well financially especially as he began to struggle with failing eyesight during the 1770s. He was elected as a Royal Academician in 1771 and appointed Academy Librarian. Burch died in February 1814 and is buried at St Pancras Parish Church.

Framed Size: 80 x 70mm

Provenance: UK Private Collection

APHA Registration: JCDZ8F2J

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Antique Miniature Portrait to the Georgian era.

Height
8cm (3.15")
Width
7cm (2.76")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1141988
Dealers Internal Ref
GU504
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

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 4
Archive I An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed

Archive II An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame. View II
Archive III An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame. View III
Archive IV An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame. View IV
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 oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame.
Fine Miniature Portrait by Edward Burch, Signed
Ref: SA1141988
An oval antique miniature portrait of a woman in a white dress with dark curly hair, set within a polished metal frame.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectMiniature Paintings
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialIvory, Watercolour, Gold, Glass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsOval format, Detailed brushwork, Suspension loop
  • SizeH 8 cm (3 in) x W 7 cm (3 in)

FAQs

An antique miniature portrait is a small-scale painting, typically executed in watercolour on ivory, vellum, or card during the 18th and 19th centuries, often worn as jewellery or kept as a personal keepsake.

These portraits were traditionally painted using fine watercolours or gouache on thin slices of ivory, prepared vellum, or paper, and typically housed in brass, gold, or silver frames often backed with glass or hairwork.

Authentic pieces exhibit delicate, stippled brushwork under magnification, signs of age on the backing material such as yellowing ivory or old paper, and period-appropriate framing techniques without modern adhesives.

This piece can be displayed on a small easel on a mantelpiece, grouped in a gallery wall of historic silhouettes, or placed within a study to add a layer of collected, historical depth.

Miniatures must be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent the fading of watercolour pigments and protected from high humidity and extreme temperature fluctuations to safeguard the fragile painted surface.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories