How were these miniature portraits originally worn or displayed?

Many profile miniatures functioned as personal jewellery, set into rings, brooches, or pendants so that wearers could keep family members close to their hearts. Others were framed in pairs or small groups for intimate domestic display on parlour walls. Larger wall-hanging versions sat in heavy ebonised wood or brass frames, whilst small patch boxes and trinket cases incorporated miniature profiles into their lids for daily use.

What is the difference between a silhouette and a painted miniature?

Silhouettes rely entirely on outline and shadow, rendered through cut paper, ink, or painted fill to capture the distinct profile of a sitter. They focus strictly on the contour of the nose, brow, and chin. Painted miniatures incorporate colour, shading, and fine details using watercolour, ink, or plumbago on paper, plaster, or ivory, offering a more nuanced representation of skin tones and clothing.

How can I tell if a frame is original to the piece?

Original frames generally show the correct period construction methods, such as turned ebonised wood profiles, small brass hangers, and old backboards secured with old fixings. The sizing and mounting inside the rebate should fit the miniature without modern spacers or adhesives. Signs of alteration include modern backing tape, mismatched proportions between the artwork and the surrounding mount, or synthetic materials in the rebate.

Did these portraits always depict family members?

While most commissions recorded beloved spouses, children, or parents, some pieces portrayed public figures, monarchs, or fictional dignitaries. The Grand Tour also prompted travellers to purchase ready-made profile reliefs of classical figures or notable people. Commemorative pieces sometimes marked specific life events or noted a sitter's status, but the primary motivation remained personal remembrance and affection.

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Georgian Profile Miniature

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A georgian profile miniature distills an entire persona into a few inches of paper, glass, or metal.

19th century

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Early 19th Century Gilded Silhouette Portrait of a Lady

From Harrington Antiques

£110

3+ MONTHS AGO

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James Ferguson - Plumbago Portraits of the Filkes Family

18th century

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James Ferguson - Plumbago Portraits of the Filkes Family

From Wigs on the Green

£3,250

3+ MONTHS AGO

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George Atkinson, Gilded Silhouette of a Regency Lady

19th century

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George Atkinson, Gilded Silhouette of a Regency Lady

From Wigs on the Green

£165

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

19th century

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Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

From Rams Head Antiques

£110

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Archibald Skirving, Portrait of Viscountess Gormanston

18th century

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Archibald Skirving, Portrait of Viscountess Gormanston

From Wigs on the Green

£1,000

3+ MONTHS AGO

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19th century

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Cut & Gilded Silhouette, Circa 1830

From Wigs on the Green

£140

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Silhouette on Plaster by John Miers, Circa 1786

18th century

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Silhouette on Plaster by John Miers, Circa 1786

From Wigs on the Green

£325

3+ MONTHS AGO

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John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

18th century

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John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

From Wigs on the Green

£360

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Painted Silhouette by John Smith of Edinburgh

18th century

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Painted Silhouette by John Smith of Edinburgh

From Wigs on the Green

£425

3+ MONTHS AGO

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19th century

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Early 19th Century Watercolour Portrait of Maria Isabella Boyes

From I M Chaney Antique Furniture

£300

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Listings feature works from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, utilising glass, paper, brass, wood, ink, watercolour, ebonised wood, and gold leaf.

Miers Silhouette of a Gentleman, Oct. 1791

18th century

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Miers Silhouette of a Gentleman, Oct. 1791

From Wigs on the Green

£380

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Regency Silhouette of a Lady in a Turban Cap in an Ebony Frame

19th century

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Regency Silhouette of a Lady in a Turban Cap in an Ebony Frame

From Gertrude Antiques

£105

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Ozias Humphry, Pair of Portraits of Family Friends

18th century

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Ozias Humphry, Pair of Portraits of Family Friends

From Wigs on the Green

£600

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

18th century

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Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

From Aramis Antiques

£295

3+ MONTHS AGO

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18th century

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Delighted Watercolour Portrait, 1780s

From Wigs on the Green

£300

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Georgian Silhouette of a Gentleman C1785

18th century

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Georgian Silhouette of a Gentleman C1785

From Aramis Antiques

£125

3+ MONTHS AGO

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Georgian Profile Miniature

Early 19th Century Gilded Silhouette Portrait of a Lady

James Ferguson - Plumbago Portraits of the Filkes Family

George Atkinson, Gilded Silhouette of a Regency Lady

Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

Archibald Skirving, Portrait of Viscountess Gormanston

Cut & Gilded Silhouette, Circa 1830

Silhouette on Plaster by John Miers, Circa 1786

John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

Painted Silhouette by John Smith of Edinburgh

Early 19th Century Watercolour Portrait of Maria Isabella Boyes

Miers Silhouette of a Gentleman, Oct. 1791

Regency Silhouette of a Lady in a Turban Cap in an Ebony Frame

Ozias Humphry, Pair of Portraits of Family Friends

Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

Delighted Watercolour Portrait, 1780s

Georgian Silhouette of a Gentleman C1785

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