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.

John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

18th century

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John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

From Wigs on the Green

£360

FOR SALE

art

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

FOR SALE

art

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

FOR SALE

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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

FOR SALE

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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

FOR SALE

art

18th century

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A Georgian Coquilla Nut Patch Box

From Opus Antiques

£270

FOR SALE

boxes

Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

19th century

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Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

From Rams Head Antiques

£110

FOR SALE

art

Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

19th century

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Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

From Wigs on the Green

£725

FOR SALE

art

19th century

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Late 19th Century Pencil & Watercolour Portraits (Set of 8)

From Treaders Collectables

£4,400

FOR SALE

art

Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

18th century

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Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

From Aramis Antiques

£295

FOR SALE

art

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

Silhouette Painted with Colour on Glass of Mrs Hanbury, 1820

19th century

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Silhouette Painted with Colour on Glass of Mrs Hanbury, 1820

From Wigs on the Green

£175

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

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Georgian Profile Miniature

John Miers Unusual Silhouette with Motto

Painted Silhouette by John Smith of Edinburgh

George Atkinson, Gilded Silhouette of a Regency Lady

Miers Silhouette of a Gentleman, Oct. 1791

Ozias Humphry, Pair of Portraits of Family Friends

A Georgian Coquilla Nut Patch Box

Georgian Silhouette Portrait in Rosewood Frame

Miniature Portrait of Lady Godolphin by Jeremiah Steele

Late 19th Century Pencil & Watercolour Portraits (Set of 8)

Early 19thc Miniature Portrait on Ivory C1820

Silhouette Painted with Colour on Glass of Mrs Hanbury, 1820

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