Featured Stieler Miniature Portrait

Picked up from a charity shop today.
Please can anyone shed any light on this miniature?
It’s definitely painted as clearly visible with a loupe. Possibly painted on ivory or ivory substitute? (just guessing).
Signed Stieler with a preceding initial which isn’t clear due to dirt under the glass- possible an M which leads me to Maximilian Stieler but there seem to be several possible Stielers?.
The back is quite fun with Latin and old french but my school french is failing me!.
Any thoughts very welcome.
Thankyou

 

We've seen a few of these "piano key" frames with portrait and old book page reverse before. I'm not sure what the verdict was for age.

 

That looks like Schubert. Yep. It's he.

Debora

 

A decorative item with faux ivory, probably Celluloid type of stuff. Although it may actually be painted & signed, it will be a copy of something. Signature could be name of original artist or copyist. Paper on the back has no relevance to subject of the painting. Looks like taken from a page of a book laying out, in Latin & French, precepts for a religious order. Would not assume the paper really is what it appears to be.

 

Debora nails it again:

https://www.wqxr.org/story/world-franz-schubert-part-1/

 

So it is!. Briliant, Thankyou ,he has a name

 

Thanks for the lead Debora- copied from this artist.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_August_Rieder

 

Original artist is Wilhelm August Rieder.

What she said.

 

Pretty sure these things were made for the decorator trade in the early 50's

 

I haven't kept track, this is just an impression, but I see these with some regularity because people sometimes use the word 'cameo' to describe anything in an oval frame, & it seems as though a disproportionate number of them are listed by sellers in S. America. For what they are, they are very well made. I have a painted repro of one of Raphael's Madonna's with faux ivoire surrounding it in an easel frame that is sturdily built with a red brocade covering for the back. Brass, but signs of gilt.

 

"piano-key frame maker" was a career option as early as 1873.

I have not found a description of said career (sure, it seems obvious, but such can be tricky at times).

Also, one imitation iteration is from the early 1930s.

16 Mar 1932
The Austin American, Austin, Texas

 

This one is pleasing to the eye and has been done by someone with some degree of competence.
I've been having a look at miniature paintings on the internet and there are some right corkers out there to rival the shocking cameos Jivvy finds to keep us entertained.

Love this Jivvy, what a bargain!. I'm intrigued as to why Sport Pencils were so called though.

 

That was not me... at least not recently... without checking, I think that was @bluumz

Without researching, I'm going to guess they were a handy size for scoring... sports.

I'll let you know if I find anything real on that topic.

 

this has NOTHING to do with your miniature, but it's cool, so look.

From worthpoint: "THIS AUCTION IS FOR A STERLING SILVER TOM THUMB PENCIL WITH ALL 12 REFILLS IN ORIGINAL BOX, CONDITION IS FANTASTIC EXCEPT SMALL STAIN ON FRONT COVER AND LIGHT PENCIL WRITING. . MADE BY JOHANN FABER BAVARIA"

 

I suspect it is a subcategory in this list:

Pianoforte Back Maker
Pianoforte Finisher
Pianoforte French Polisher
Pianoforte Key Maker
Pianoforte Stringers
Pianoforte Tuner

https://www.geni.com/projects/Pianoforte-Makers-and-related-occupations/38402

Although the ad you found does seem to indicate it was a recognized subspecialty of picture framing.

 

Another time these came up:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/french-miniature-or-fake.35223/

 

Suspect you're right. In 1910, Charles L Olds got a patent on a "mouse proof piano key frame" - even before checking, I doubted that we were talking about a mouse-proof picture frame.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US963929A/

 

oh, and in that thread, @Figtree3 linked to even more threads on the same topic.

 

Between frames made for piano keys, picture frames made from piano keys & framed pictures of piano keys, I'm dizzy & need to lie down now.

 

Well, I ended up here: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/wax-seal.4925/

And now it's either 1) shut down the computer (I can't do diddly with research on my phone) or 2) stay up all night researching.

I think I'm going to shut down the computer and hope you have it sorted by morning.