Antique painted porcelain hand mirror signed

Antiques : Accessories

 

Victorian era hand mirror set with a hand painted and signed porcelain portrait. I do not know what the metal is, probably bronze, could be brass. The mirror measures a total of 6 3/4" long, 2 1/4" wide. The handle alone measures 2 7/8" long. The porcelain plaque is horse shoe shaped. It measures 2" x 2 3/4". It features a woman with long hair in a gown and robe. There is drapery around her. There are applied gold outlines. At the hem of the green robe there is a signature of the artist but it is difficult for me to read, it starts with "B". The mirror has beveled glass in a horse shoe shape. There are 4 dark spots in the main glass body of the mirror but for the most part the mirror is clear. There is a lot of darkening along the outer edge of the mirror. The top of the mirror has a bale with a ring for hanging. Woman could take these little mirrors to social functions such as fancy dances to keep an eye on activities going on all around the room and check on possible suitors. There is a spot of discoloration to the finish on the handle, I have not cleaned or polished this.

Item ID: RL-3574