PORTRAIT JEWELRY
 

 
VICTORIAN MINIATURE PORTRAITS

Hand painted miniature portraits were the predecessors of photography. In an age when no other means of preserving a likeness was available, a hand painted portrait was a treasure and a legacy passed from generation to generation. Painting surfaces for these miniature works of art varied from porcelain and celluloid to ivory. Some portrait miniatures were done of famous "beauties" of the era, others were of classic style beauties rather than a particular real person.
 

    PORTRAIT hand painted portrait on ivory, lady with jewelry.  View   View   #a26477

   PORTRAIT hand painted portrait on ivory, lady in empire dress, "Blessington" marked on back.  View   View   View   View   #a26478

 Countess Blessington, 1789-1849.

    PORTRAIT of Countess Blessington hand painted on ivory and framed in ivory, probably circa 1960s.   View   View   #a26591

      VICTORIAN hand painted portrait of a lady in a tortoise frame.    View   View   View   #a26493

 
VICTORIAN PORTRAIT BROOCHES
Hand painted pieces, transfers and hand detailed transfers
 

PORTRAIT 2-1/8" brooch hand painted on porcelain in a twisted gold tone setting.   View   #V23717

   VICTORIAN carte de Vista of a lady wearing the same brooch shown at left.

    VICTORIAN portrait brooch 2-1/4" in gold tone frame.  View   #V24860

    VICTORIAN jet with "Vagabond Boy" portrait on porcelain pierced earrings, 2".   View   View   #V27912

    VICTORIAN hand painted child pendant, crack on front and repair on loop, 1-3/4".   View   #V27781

   VICTORIAN "Vagabond Boy" transfer brooch with hand painted details, circa 1880, 2". See Bell's "Victorian Jewelry" page 143.   View   #V27842  

     PORTRAIT BROOCH set in carved mother-of-pearl frame, 1-5/8 inch brooch.   View   #V16362  

    VICTORIAN hand painted portrait earrings.  View   View   #V18695

  VICTORIAN painted portrait brooch in a twisted gold tone frame, 1-1/2".   View  #V16063

 
20th CENTURY PORTRAIT JEWELRY

In the 20th century, hand painted miniatures painted on acetate were used as decorative devices for jewelry and accessories. Ordered from a sample, strips of the same design were hand duplicated to specification.

 

  COURTING COUPLE hand painted on acetate.

HAND PAINTED strip of courting couple scenes.

HAND PAINTED Classical woman portrait.

ELEGANT LADY and her kitten hand painted on acetate, signed "Dimarch".

BACK of hand painted portrait showing description and inventory numbers.

HAND PAINTED blue boy on acetate, signed "Dimarch".

HAND PAINTED flowers on acetate.

HAND PAINTED flowers on acetate.
HAND PAINTED flowers brooch.   #Y1419

   BACK stamp "Peint Main [ hand painted}, M. Giraudet,
Made in France".

HAND PAINTED violets on acetate.

HAND PAINTED heraldic emblems on acetate.

HAND PAINTED heraldic emblem on acetate.

      ROSENSTEIN sterling vermeil and clear rhinestones hand painted Degas-style ballerina brooch, 1-5/8".  View  #X22135

ROSENSTEIN portrait jewelry. 

 ROSENSTEIN portrait pendant in gold tone with clear rhinestone accents.   #X13719

      FLORENZA 2" portrait locket pendant on 22" chain and 1-1/8" earrings.  View   #L24837

 ROSENFELT oval black suede bag with a center painted medallion depicting 18th century style couple mounted in an elaborate blue and turquoise enameled frame, 11" by 11", circa 1950. View  #P20991