Exquisite Antique Georgian Hair Art Mourning Scene, Frame #1
This is one of the finest antique French hair art mourning icons we've ever seen, hands down! Georgian era (that's also Napoleonic era: roughly 1780-1830). While it's true there is a bit of disturbance on the veneer that caps the front panel of this wooden frame, it's of little distraction when you consider the masterpiece of mourning artistry it holds within. This is one of 2 matching Georgian era hair artistry mourning plaques we recently acquired from England, and they are both the finest we've ever seen. We are selling them separately, so watch for the other if you wish to acquire both. Look closely at our photos and scans to see the amazing work done here, entirely in human hair. The iconography of mourning is all there: the weeping willow draping over the tomb, the cross in background, tilting, the sprigs of dying grass and a forelorn mourner holding a handkerchief. For this one, the mourner mourns his wife. Dedication is translated for you, and is in French on the tomb. Look at our images. Some small 'dust' inside the glass dome (convex original glass), and one can relatively easily open the backing to get at it for a cleaning to remove this bit of dust of the ages. The matching one has already had that done; see it to see what I mean. If our buyer requests, I can remove backing on this sealed one and clean it. The other one, having had backing removed, reveals that there is a deep embossed 'something' on the cover paper backing, but we have tried and been unsuccessful in deciphering the text. It bears a seal of some sort. I suspect this one will have the same paper backing with embossed seal and text, as they are definitely a matching pair. Again, they are sold separately. Good to very good condition, age and type considered. The flaw to note is the disruption of the veneer on the upper frame, which one could certainly have replaced if desired. We'll leave it as it comes to us, however, and leave such a decision to alter it to the next owner. The inner wood mat is pristine. The convex cover glass is pristine, though as noted could stand to have an interior cleaning to remove dust particles. The work entirely done in hair is also very good. A magnificent example of a lost art. Circa 1780-1830. Large and superb! Truly museum quality.
Item ID:
710hairart1
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