We love this rare little profile that is cut from shiny black paper with highlighting drawn with a stylus or narrow grease pencil. The details of her dress and her curls are incised or embossed into the shiny surface of the paper so that you see them as pale white embellishment. Her indoor fabric cap is painted with Chinese white and cherry red watercolor. Her face is framed under the cap with incised ringlets. Her lace collar, red tie below the collar and tucker or pelisse that fits into the front of her dress are all painted on the white background paper. It all comes together to a very sweet, pretty, folky silhouette. These indoor caps were worn from the 18th century to the late 19th century. The lady’s dress with the tight sleeves, dropped waist and bustled behind date this profile to circa 1845. The silhouette card has a stain in the upper right corner and the sides are cut unevenly. The uneven sides and small size make us wonder if it has not been cut down. It might have been on quite stained or damaged paper and we are so happy it was saved because it is a rarity and a delight. As the photos show, the period maple veneered frame has a crack in the veneer--the crack is nice and stable. The upper corners of the frame has a bit of veneer loss also. Framed size is 6 3/8” x 8” with a sight size of 1 ¾” x 3 3/8”.

#7196    $295