Catalog: Fine Art: Paintings: Miniatures (328)

A charming miniature painting done in watercolor on organic wafer. The subject of this delightful work is a very pretty young woman, with brown hair and eyes, wearing a pleated white dress with a lace lined bodice, at the midpoint a brooch with flowers. An old label attached to the painting attributes this work to Moses B. Russell. Housed in a bronze frame with fabric backing.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no chips, cracks, paint loss, bowing, or restoration...

A beautifully painted miniature by Enrichetta Koelman, nee Narducci. Done in watercolor on organic material, it depicts a nice looking gentleman attired in a brown coat and black tie. It is carefully signed along the left edge "1850 Enrichetta Koelman f(ecit)". The painting is mounted in a 14k or 18k gold surround with a wide filigreed depth at the sides, a pin on the reverse, and a mother-of-pearl backing.

The condition is excellent, with no flaws...

This is a rather large portrait miniature done in body color and watercolor on ivory. The signature on the lower right is "P(or T)ouktuz Sta??er". The signature and attire indicate the painting was probably done by an Eastern European or Russian artist. The subject of this 19th century work is an attractive young girl from a wealthy family, based on the expensive clothing (the fur coat, gloves, hat, and boots)...

A wonderfully detailed portrait miniature, on organic material, of a woman of substantial means, bearing, and physique. She is posed by a console table, and elegantly attired and bedecked with jewelry and an elaborate dress.

The portrait is signed on the lower right by Reinhold Krauss, a known artist listed in Thieme-Becker's "Artists of the World"...

A beautiful portrait miniature, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter is a lovely young woman wearing a large and striking turban and a lace fichu over a light apricot dress. A brooch below her bodice echoes the circular motif on the turban.

Housed in its original bronze case with a diameter of 3 1/4". Both the case and the painting are in excellent condition...

A watercolor miniature portrait done by Richard Morrell Staigg. The sitter is a nice-looking blue-eyed young man in a black coat and cravat, with a light blue vest. As is usual with Staigg, the painting is superbly limned. It is housed in one half of a leather case.

The condition is excellent, with no problems whatsoever. Sight size is 3 1/2" by 3".

A wonderful and charming pair of portrait miniatures by Moses B. Russell, housed in their original matching gold-filled engine turned cases, each with the sitter's hair in the reverse aperture.

The beautiful young woman, with blue eyes and dark brown hair, is wearing a royal blue dress trimmed with lace at the bodice. Signed on the backing paper "Painted by MB Russell 1843 This Paper to Stay On," and in pencil "Susan E. Cushing Taken When 17 years of age"...

Signed "Inman 1842" along the right edge, this fine miniature portrait is purportedly of Theodore Roosevelt's grandmother. Painted with watercolors on organic material, it shows the sitter simply attired in a black dress with a lace collar, with the only other adornment being a brooch on that collar.

A later note on the back of the bronze frame states that the sitter is Mrs. Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt (nee Margaret Barnhill)...

A fine miniature portrait painting, on natural organic material, done by John Alexander McDougall. The sitter is a distinguished gentleman dressed fashionably in a ruffled blue shirt, light blue vest, and black coat.

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no problems or restoration. The brass case is also without flaws. The photo of the back does appear to have blemishes, but these are label residues...

A beautifully executed miniature portrait painting of a young gent, signed and dated "JH Kimberly Pinxt New York March 1844". It is in its original foliate cast case, measuring 2 3/4" by 2 5/16".

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, bowing, paint loss, or restoration...

A very fine American portrait miniature painting, on natural organic material, of a young man attired in the latest fashion of his period, wearing a brown vest and velvet collar coat.

The miniature is 2 inches by 1 1/2 inches sight size and the deep purple velvet-lined thermoplastic case it is in is 3 inches by 2 1/2 inches...

A superbly painted portrait of a handsome gentleman, strongly attributed to James Tooley. The sitter has blue eyes, red hair and beard, and is attired in a black jacket, black vest, with a blue-gray waistcoat and cravat.

The artistry shown in this piece is of the highest quality, and the feel and techniques indicate that it was done by James Tooley. Further, on the back of the painting, under the protective paper backing, was a trade label for Kaussler & Smith, a 19th c Philadelphia maker of ...

A rare miniature portrait, on natural organic material, painted by Thomas LeClear. The sitter is a young man with dark brown hair and eyes, staring almost directly at the viewer. He is dressed in a black coat with silk trim, a black tie, and a white shirt. On the reverse, the painting is signed "Painted by Thomas Le Clear in Buffalo 1842".

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no bowing, chips, cracks, or restoration. It is housed in a thermoplastic case, also without issues. The sigh...

A beautiful French portrait miniature signed "Mie Bost" center right by Mélanie Bost. The sitter is a young girl in a white lace dress with blue ribbons at the shoulders, her hair parted down the center. Presented in a gold frame with a red glass over guilloche work surround, with small pearls to the exterior border. The reverse with a mother-of-pearl back and a gilt metal pin. Excellent condition with an overall size of 2" by 1 5/8" by 1/4" depth.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Melanie Bost (born ...

An unusual and spectacular pair of portrait miniatures. Although both are signed by Moses B. Russell, it is almost certain, due to slight technique variances, that the portrait of the woman was done by Mrs. Moses B. Russell, nee Clarissa Peters. Although it is known that some of his signed pieces were, in fact, done by her, I know of no other instance where each artist did one of a pair.

The paintings are in excellent condition, with vibrant colors and no cracks, bowing, mold, retouch, ...

A beautifully painted miniature portrait on ivory, signed and dated lower left "Gerald S. Hayward 1882". The sitter is an attractive young woman wearing a diamond necklace and white gown. The background is white clouds against a blue sky. This, taken with the 1883 date of the painting contrasting with the engraved 1884 date on the reverse of the cast foliate case (along with the sitter's initials of F.L.A.) would be a strong indication that this is a mourning painting, done in the year prior to ...

A beautiful and finely painted miniature portrait painting, done in watercolor on natural material, by Thomas Seir Cummings. The sitter is a very attractive woman wearing an academic or possibly a cleric gown, and a white lace and blue material cap. The frame, which is later, is a beautiful burl wood.

The sight size is 4" by 3", and the framed size is 6 1/2" by 5 1/2". Condition is excellent, with no cracks, chips, paint loss, bowing, or restoration. The slight disturbance along the botto...

A fine pair of miniature portrait paintings, on natural organic material, housed in a 1/6 plate daguerreotype case, which is embossed in a cartouche on the front and back "M.B. Brady Case Maker NY". Cases by Brady are highly desirable and avidly collected.

As to the wonderful portraits, the first is of a bewhiskered gentleman in a black jacket, vest, and stock, and a white pleated shirt. The woman is attired in a black pleated dress with lace edging, and a white lace cap. It is highly probabl...