Superb Tinsel or Foil Painting NY c1870
Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Folk Art: Pre 1900: Item # 1008531
Please refer to our stock # a1173 when inquiring.
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This is an unusual, wonderful, and beautifully done tinsel or foil painting. It depicts a large bouquet of flowers in a an urn. The urn has been painted to look like it has a mica or quartz type surface, with the stand being done in the same manner. Colors are very vibrant, and include deep blues, purple, pink, various shades of yellow and green, white, reds, and others.
Tinsel paintings of this type are almost a completely American form, becoming highly popular around 1870, and continuing into the mid 20th century. Earlier pieces, such as this one, were done by reverse painting on the glass, and the foil was not colored, but picked up its hues from the paint on the glass it was backing.
Often, tinsel paintings show substantial loss, scratches, and paint lifting. This particular one is is superb condition, with virtually no problems. The very fine gilt over gesso frame is original and in very good condition. The painting even has the label of the frame maker, H. Kimball (a Newburgh, NY artisan active from the 1860's) on the original wood backing, something else that is incredibly rare. The sight size is a goodly 19 3/4 inches by 15 1/2 inches, and the framed size is 21 3/4 inches by 17 1/2 inches.
