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Matched pair of early 19th-century hollow-cut silhouette portraits, a gentleman and a lady, each in its original-style gilt frame. Probably American, possibly English, circa 1810-1830.
The silhouettes
• Each profile is cut out of the white paper, with black fabric behind it. The weave shows clearly under magnification.
• Fine pencil detail: hair strands, shirt frill and cravat on him, and the hair knot on her.
• Facing each other as a true pair. Her hairstyle and his clothing both fit the Federal/Regency period.
• Unsigned. The sitters are unidentified.
• Gilt cove-molded frames with mitered corners, a style from about 1820-1850. Worn gilding shows the red clay layer underneath.
• Old pine backboards, held in with old nails. The brass hanging rings are later additions.
• Each frame is about 4" x 4". Image opening about 1.5”x1.5”
Condition (please read)
• Gilt wear and small losses to both frames, as shown.
• Light toning and age spotting to the paper.
• The lady's paper has shifted slightly within her frame, exposing a bit of the backing at the top right corner. I have not opened either frame, so everything is as found.
• No cracks in the glass.
Sold as pictured, with no returns on age-related wear. Packed carefully for shipping.
