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PORTRAIT JEWELRY
It can be hand painted on ivory, porcelain, paper or
mother-of-pearl.... it can be set in gold with precious gems, mounted on jet or
simply
costume jewelry... it can be a lovely lady, a dignified gentleman or a
charming child...
Portrait jewelry is a sentimental favorite, a personality
captured in time and a classic fashion accessory.
In the days before photography, a hand-painted portrait miniature was a
desirable keepsake or love token. While some of these miniature art works
were done of actual people including both royalty and everyday folks, others
were painted of mythological characters and idealized lovely ladies. Mother-of-pearl, ivory and vellum were
often used as paint surfaces. Settings range from the simplest rolled gold
twist frame brooch to gem encrusted wonders. Artists who did portrait
miniatures were called "limners" and they did not only pieces for jewelry,
but also work meant to be framed for display, often in lacquered wood or
ivory embellished frames. Some traveled from city to city taking
commissions as they went. Portraits could be worn on velvet ribbons around
the neck, as brooches, rings and bracelets, and in lockets. Even men
occasionally worn portraits suspended around the neck under their shirts.
Artist-signed pieces, lovely
ladies and children, dated pieces and identifiable individuals often command
the highest prices. Portraits that combine
enclosures for hair or include an engraved notation are also sought after.
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VICTORIAN 14k gentleman's portrait 2-1/8" oval brooch engraved on the
back "Catherine Graham, Albany NY".
View #V23370 |
Group of Victorian portrait, photographic and memorial
jewelry. |
PORTRAIT Miniature This portrait hand painted on ivory, 2-2/3", circa 1840 also has
a lock of hair on the back. This brooch was featured in Victorian
Homes Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005. It also was featured in Southeastern Antiquing &
Collecting Magazine, August 2003.
View #V3810 |
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VICTORIAN jet hand
painted child on porcelain brooch, 1-1/3".
View #V29291 |
VICTORIAN
hand painted child pendant, crack on front and repair on loop, 1-3/4".
View #V27781 |
VICTORIAN
jet with "Vagabond Boy" portrait on porcelain pierced earrings, 2".
View
View #V27912 |
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VICTORIAN jet and hand painted on porcelain lady in pink and blue
portrait brooch, Greek key design edge, 1-7/8" by 1-1/2".
View #V29889 |
VICTORIAN portrait earrings set in gold, 1-1/4" pendant only, 1-7/8"
total length. View
View #V29901 |
VICTORIAN jet pendant with
hand painted porcelain lady portrait, 2".This brooch was featured in
Victorian Homes Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005
View #V25926 |
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VICTORIAN jet
hand painted praying child teardrop shaped 2-1/4" portrait pendant on 20"
fabric ribbon.
View
View #V28833 |
VICTORIAN jet pendant
with hand painted porcelain child wearing a fancy cap portrait, 1-1/2".
View #V29279 |
VICTORIAN 2-1/4"
portrait pendant with 1/3" loop.
View #V28555 |
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VICTORIAN jet painted
cherub portrait with hair compartment, 1-3/4" by 1-1/4". Raphael
(Raffaello Sanzio, 1483-1520) was a great, late Renaissance Italian artist.
Raphael's Cherub is part of his early 1500s Sistine Chapel murals in the
Vatican. Many Victorian pieces were made with this as their inspiration,
including this one.
View
View #V29914 |
VICTORIAN jet cherub 1-7/8"
by 1-1/2" locket with photo and hair on back suspended on a 20" faceted French
jet glass beads chain. Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio,
1483-1520) was a great, late Renaissance Italian artist. Raphael's Cherub is
part of his early 1500s Sistine Chapel murals in the Vatican. Many Victorian
pieces were made with this as their inspiration, including this one. A
similar piece can be seen on page 167 of Bell's "Collecting Victorian
Jewelry". View
View #V29917 |
VICTORIAN jet
pendant with hand painted porcelain green Tyrolean boy portrait, 2-1/2" by
1-1/4" pendant on carved jet beads 18" necklace.
View
View
View #V29918 |
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VICTORIAN Whitby jet and porcelain pendant, lovely lady holding a dove,
1-3/4" by 1-1/3" on a 24" ribbon.
View #V32218 |
VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a locket on a long black ribbon
and a hand painted Gypsy Boy set in jet brooch, 2-1/2" by 4". Dated on
the back 10/87, "W. McLiesh
Photographer, 71 Northgate, Darlington".
View
View #Vkph25 |
VICTORIAN gypsy boy transfer
portrait pin with hand painted details in a yellow gold twist setting brooch,
2-1/4" by 1-7/8". View
#V32766 |
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VICTORIAN
painted porcelain set in jet boy portrait brooch, 2-1/8". For a
similar piece see page 32 in Helen Muller's "Jet Jewellery and Ornaments".
This brooch was featured in Victorian Homes Magazine in an article
called "Large Portraits, Small Sentiments", December 2005
View #V25351 |
VICTORIAN 2"
"gypsy boy" hand detailed portrait on jet segmented bracelet 1" wide and
strung on elastic, fits a 6 to 6-1/2" wrist.
View #V28835 |
VICTORIAN carved
jet with hand painted porcelain green Tyrolean boy tie pin, 7/8" by 5/8" by
2-1/3". View
View #V29920 |
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VICTORIAN jet brooch with
inset hand painted porcelain "Tyrolean boy", 1-3/4".
View #V29224 |
VICTORIAN vulcanite pendant
with hand painted porcelain pink "Tyrolean boy" portrait, 2-5/8".
View #V29161 |
VICTORIAN
vulcanite green boy pendant, 2-5/8".
View #V28876 |
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VICTORIAN jet teardrop pendant with transfer and hand
detailed Gypsy boy portrait, one tiny flea bite visible only from back, 2"
with 3/4" loop. View
View #V31804 |
VICTORIAN lady wearing
a portrait brooch and pendant watch. Cabinet card in folder marked, "Miller,
Union Block, Mt. Vernon, O." and hand written in red ink on front, "Alta
Woodruff Houk, age 18".
View |
VICTORIAN painted
gypsy boy brooch set in black pressed horn brooch, 1-1/2".
View #V31811 |
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PASTE French miniature
brooch, portrait in black and white on ivory set with clear pastes in silver
with safety chain, 1-1/3" by 1". She wears a powdered wig with flowers in
her hair and on her bodice, great detail.
View #Q33328 |
VICTORIAN Whitby jet
with painted gypsy boy brooch, unusually thick jet, 2-5/8" by 2-1/8".
View
View #V33259 |
VICTORIAN painted
porcelain plaques to be used for jewelry, most often set in jet.
View #V33506 |
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VICTORIAN lady hand painted porcelain brooch, wearing
pink rose and necklace, 1-7/8". This brooch was featured in
Victorian Homes Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005.
View #V27596 |
VICTORIAN yellow
gold enamel painted portrait pierced earrings, pendant portion 1-1/3".
See Bell's "Collecting Victorian Jewelry" page 158.
View
View #V27338 |
VICTORIAN bellman's cap
transfer with hand painted transfer details portrait brooch in twisted gold
tone frame, 2-1/3".This brooch was featured in Victorian Homes Magazine in
an article called "Large Portraits, Small Sentiments", December 2005.
View #V27593 |
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PORTRAIT brooch hand painted on porcelain
in a twisted gold tone setting. This brooch was featured in
Victorian Homes Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005. It also was featured in Southeastern Antiquing &
Collecting Magazine, August 2003.
View #V23717 |
VICTORIAN lady
wearing the same portrait brooch shown at left and watch chain. Cabinet Card size 4-1/4" by
6-1/2" marked "Jacoby, Minneapolis" on the front. |
VICTORIAN
portrait brooch, 2-1/2". This lady dressed in plum is delicately hand
painted on a porcelain disk set into a twisted gold filled setting. Notice
the detail of the feather in her hat. This brooch was featured in
Victorian Homes Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005. It also was featured in Southeastern Antiquing &
Collecting Magazine, August 2003.
View #V22943 |
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VICTORIAN painted
porcelain portrait brooch, 2" with tiny factory face "dimple".
View #V24885 |
VICTORIAN lady
wearing a portrait brooch and a watch chain with a ring as an ornament.
Cabinet card size 4-1/4" by 6-1/2" marked on the front "Younge, Over
Glenn's, Franklin Square, Utica, NY".
View |
VICTORIAN porcelain portrait
brooch 2-1/4" in gold tone frame.
View #V24860 |
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PORTRAIT porcelain transfer
portrait brooch, lady with green veil and necklace i silver tone setting,
circa 1900, wear on finish visible under 10x magnification only, 1-1/2".
This brooch was featured in Victorian Homes Magazine in an article
called "Large Portraits, Small Sentiments", December 2005 issue.
View #Y25355 |
TRANSFER on porcelain poppy
lady portrait unset plaque, small sized at 1-1/4" by 7/8". Similar piece can
be seen in Christie Romero's "Warman's Jewelry, 3rd Ed, page 111.
View #Q34671 |
VICTORIAN
vintage Mucha style lady transfer with hand painted details on porcelain
portrait pin, wear on finish visible under 10x magnification only, circa
1900, 1-3/4" by 1-1/3". This brooch was featured in Victorian Homes
Magazine in an article called "Large Portraits, Small
Sentiments", December 2005 issue.
View
#V24933 |
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PORTRAIT hand painted on
porcelain lady portrait brooch, small sized 1-1/4". (Seen in Christie
Romero's "Warman's Jewelry, 3rd Ed, page
111.)
View #Q32159 |
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VICTORIAN hand painted portrait brooch, lady in feathered hat set in
gold tone, 1-1/2" by 1-1/8".
View #V30093 |
VICTORIAN photograph of a lady
wearing a portrait brooch on a black velvet ribbon. Jarvis White & Co.,
Davenport, Iowa. View
View |
VICTORIAN large hand
tinted transfer on porcelain detailed lovely lady in gold tone twist setting
brooch, 2-1/3".
View #V29293 |
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VICTORIAN gypsy boy transfer
portrait pin with hand painted details in a yellow gold twist setting brooch,
2-1/4" by 1-7/8". View
#V32766 |
GEORGIAN brooch of a
hand painted portrait on ivory under glass set in silver with rubies. A
similar brooch can be see in Dawes "Georgian Jewelry" page 130. #VHM7 |
VICTORIAN "Vagabond Boy" transfer brooch with hand painted details,
circa 1880, 2". See Bell's "Victorian Jewelry" page 143. This
brooch was featured in Victorian Homes Magazine in an article called
"Large Portraits, Small Sentiments", December 2005.
View #V27842 |
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VICTORIAN sterling silver and
painted porcelain brooch with ribbon motif frame circa 1900, remade pin back, 2" by
1-3/4". View
#V34583 |
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VICTORIAN hand tinted little girl photo brooch with seed
pearls set in sterling, 7/8". #V27599 |
VICTORIAN hand painted on
porcelain portrait pin, lady with pink and white bonnet, 1".
View #V27600 |
VICTORIAN hand detailed transfer on porcelain
portrait pin, lady with pink and blue bonnet, 1". #V27601 |
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VICTORIAN lady descending stairway portrait brooch, hand
painted on porcelain, 1-5/8".
View #V27598 |
EDWARDIAN hand painted on ivory little boy brooch, 1-3/4".
This brooch was featured in Victorian Homes Magazine in an article
called "Large Portraits, Small Sentiments", December 2005.
View
#V27597 |
PORTRAIT hand detailed
transfer portrait brooch, 2-1/8". Slight scraping at left temple.
View #Q27594 |
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CZECH style
brooch with four portraits on porcelain set in gold tone with red
rhinestones, 4". View
View
View
View #X27676 |
VICTORIAN lady
wearing a portrait brooch, cut steel buttons and diamond earrings. Cabinet
card size 4-1/4" by 6-1/2", marked "J. O. Herbert, Grand Rapids, Wis." |
VICTORIAN Art Nouveau
gold tone graduated disks with lady faces motif fob, 4-5/8" with 5" chain.
View
View
#V28384 |
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PORTRAIT hand
painted portrait miniature on ivory , a lovely lady in a brass frame, she
wears a pink rose on her bodice, 2" by 1-1/2".
View #V24370 |
HOBE
portrait ring with green rhinestone surround. #O11606 |
HOBE
portrait 2-1/4" pin and earrings with purple rhinestones, lady in pastel
blue. View
#O11670 |
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VICTORIAN portrait brooch set in mother-of-pearl, 1-5/8 inch. View
#V16362 |
CLIP portrait
gold tone scroll embossed dress clip, 2-1/2".
View #Y27372 |
PORTRAIT
necklace with transfer portrait and floral motif.
View
View #Y21237 |
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ENAMEL
MINIATURE PORTRAIT lady of fashion painted on porcelain 2 3/4” pin,
w/safety chain, hinged c-clasp, tests at least 14k. #V12530 |
ENAMEL MINIATURE BOY
2 1/8” x1 3/4" portrait pin painted on porcelain, set in jet. The back
has a hinged c-clasp, circa 1870.
View #V12532 |
ENAMEL
MINIATURE PORTRAIT lady in blue painted on porcelain. This pin with
safety chain and a hinged c-clasp is set in a 9c gold scalloped frame, 2
1/4" tall. #V12529 |
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VICTORIAN enameled
picture of a lady brooch.
View
#V15671 |
HINGED gold tone bangle
7" b y 1" bracelet with porcelain portrait on the front.
View #V17805 |
CZECH porcelain portrait
screw back earrings, 2-1/3".
View
View #Q24872 |
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PORTRAIT hand painted portrait brooch in
lacy silver filigree hearts setting, 1-5/8". The portrait is
delicately painted on celluloid and mounted behind glass, circa 1960.
View #Q33558 |
ROBERT
hand painted portrait pin, 2".
View #R25207 |
PORTRAIT hand painted portrait brooch in
lacy silver filigree setting, 1-5/8". The portrait is delicately
painted on celluloid and mounted behind glass and it is signed by the
artist, circa 1960.
View #Q33559 |
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ROSENSTEIN
did an entire series of portrait pieces like this brooch, 2-1/4".
View #X22409 |
ROSENSTEIN hand painted
portrait brooch set in ornate gold tone with clear rhinestones and
artificial pearls, 2-1/2" by 1-3/4", circa 1960. The lady in the
portrait wears wonderful jewelry and a powdered wig.
View #X11708 |
ROSENSTEIN sterling
vermeil and clear rhinestones hand painted Degas-style ballerina brooch,
1-5/8". View
#X22135 |
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ROSENSTEIN hand painted
portrait brooch in gold tone with artificial pearls and clear rhinestones.
View
View #X26514 |
HASKELL/VRBA this fabulous portrait pin was made
in 1973 by Larry Vrba for a Broadway play called "Crown Matrimonial" when he was the designer for Miriam Haskell Jewelry, 6" by
3-1/3". There was more regal-looking jewelry made for the same
play, and I dream of finding other pieces.
View
View
#H10012 |
ROSENSTEIN
portrait pendant. #X13719 |
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FLORENZA
portrait brooch/frame. The portrait is the same
as the Haskell/Vrba brooch at the right, 2-1/3".
View
#X21469 |
FLORENZA 2" portrait locket
pendant on 22" chain and 1-1/8" earrings.
View #L24837 |
FLORENZA portrait
brooch/pendant in textured gold tone setting with flower and leaf design,
2".
View #L24823 |
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FLORENZA printed
portrait set in ornate gold tone brooch, 1-7/8".
View #L28558 |
PAINTED lady 2" porcelain brooch.
View #Y21920 |
ART
2" portrait pin with ornate gold tone setting.
View #X24621 |
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HAND PAINTED lady with floral cape brooch, marked "TLM
(Thomas L Mott) Made in
England" circa 1930 , 1-3/4". View
View #Y26454 |
PORTRAIT
marked "TLM ( Thomas L Mott) Made in England" hand painted portrait pin, lady dressed in
1800's fashions, circa 1930, 2-1/3".
View
View
View #V25991 |
PORTRAIT
marked "TLM ( Thomas L Mott) Made in England" hand painted portrait pin, lady dressed in
1800's fashions, circa 1930, 2-1/3".
View #V27649 |
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LIMOGES painted
portrait brooch of a lady in blue set in gold tone twist frame with trombone
catch and pendant loop, 1-7/8".
View
View #X29282 |
LIMOGES painted ladies in
blue and peach dresses portraits set in gold tone twist frames with
artificial pearls bracelet, 8" by 1-1/3".
View
View #X28999 |
T&M T Mott hand
painted on mother-of-pearl dressy lady brooch, 1-3/4".
View #X29151 |
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PORTRAITS of
fancy lady in elegant hat, a convex glass covered printed portrait set in gold
tone frame with hand painted pink roses on velvet, 5-5/8" by 3-3/4". Set
of two.
View
View
View
View
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View #a50706 |
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BAKELITE deep apple
juice carved brooch with courting couple porcelain portrait panel, 2-5/8" by
1-7/8". View
#B28900 |
HAND PAINTED
portrait of a lady in her best hat, 2".
View #Y26396 |
PAINTED portrait in silver brooch
with orange glass beads, marked 800, 1-1/3".
View #V31340 |
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BOOK with lady portrait cover, "Homestead on the Hillside" by Mary J
Holmes circa 1910. #a27890 |
HOBE green glass bead
four-strand necklace with a central hand painted female warrior on ivory
under glass and set in gold tone flowers, filigree box catch. The necklace is 18-1/2" long
and the center is 1-1/4" by 1-1/2".
View
View
View #O32136 |
BOOK with lady portrait cover, "Tempest & Sunshine" by Mary J Holmes circa
1910. #a27889 |
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PORTRAIT on
porcelain set in antique metal collar frame with screw holes to fasten it to
a box or plaque, 3-1/2" by 4".
View
View
#a60628 |
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