Large Antique Miniature Ivory Portrait Tortoise Shell & Ormolu Frame

Antiques : Miniature Portraits & Portrait Boxes

 

A stunning and large antique 19th century miniature portrait hand painted on ivory depicting a gentleman, nobly dressed with high boots and sword at his side. This portrait is a smaller rendition of Sir Anthony Van Dyck’s portrait of Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset, in the same pose and setting.

This portrait is beautifully hand painted, with minute brushstrokes and bright, vivid colors while housed under glass in a gorgeous gilt ormolu and tortoise shell frame. Four ormolu rosette appliqués adorn each corner and support four panels of tortoise shell with an ornate loop at the top which allows for hanging display.

Portrait measures 6 3/4" in length and about 4 1/4" in width. Frame measures 9 3/8" in length and 6 5/8" in width.

Overall, the piece is in wonderful condition for its age. There are two thin hairline cracks to the shell paneling; one is located on the top of the frame while the other is located at the bottom portion of the frame.

Van Dyck’s portrait of Edward Sackville, fourth Earl of Dorset hangs in the Knole House in Kent, UK and a black and white photo of the painting can be seen in the book “Knole House: Its State Rooms, Pictures, and Antiquities” by Lionel Sackville-West. Likewise, an engraving of the portrait can be seen on the Getty Images website.

Edward Sackville (1591-1652) served under Charles I as a privy councilor as well as lord Chamberlain to the Queen Henrietta Maria and aided the king during the English Civil War. In 1613, he was involved in scandal when he and Lord Edward Bruce dueled for the hand in marriage of Venetia Stanley. Lord Bruce died and Sackville was wounded, but he returned to find Venetia Stanley had married Sir Kenelm Digby.

Item ID: MP-178