Featured Antique French Hairwork Miniature

I bought this beautiful and poignant miniature Hairwork embroidery in a Brocante Market today in the Dordogne , wondering about possible dating ?

 

Don't think I've ever seen a nun's handiwork before.

Debora

 

Do you think it’s a nun ? I thought it was just a memory of their deaths ?? x

 

Of course that makes sense now how amazing ! Well done Debora x

 

Running some of those names through a French genealogy site might help you with your dating. Iron gall ink was used into the 20th century so that's not really helpful.

Debora

 

Very interesting item...

 

It is, isn't it?

Debora

 

I pulled a Debora:

In: L'ami de la religion journal et revue ecclesiastique, politique et litteraire
From 1842

And

In: Les religieuses modèles dans les diverses fonctions de la vie régulière
From 1868

 

Well done! So if Mère Basile Tixier's hair was one of those used to compose the image... It wouldn't have been created until after her death in 1843.

Debora

 

And I just found this:
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5719260q/texteBrut
Les soins aux malades ne manquaient pas, car deux Soeurs de la Charité de Nevers furent, dès l'ouverture, chargées de l'infirmerie. L'une était Madeleine Richard; l'autre, Thècle Imbert. Celle-ci avait fait profession le 4 septembre 1779

and

Notice sur soeur Thècle, née à Saint-Rabier en 1751, morte à Sens en 1837.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_Charity_of_Nevers

"The Catholic convent is best known for Bernadette Soubirous, also known as Saint Bernadette of Lourdes,"

 

Another great find. And consistent with the first death. So maybe created during the reign of King Louis Philippe?

Debora

 

I'm a big believer in just asking. The worst that can happen is that one doesn't receive an answer.

https://congregation-soeurs-charite-nevers.fr/en/contact/

Debora

 

Sweet, simple, an' direct! Bravo, Debora...

 

That’s great , I think it was created probably while her sisters where alive , what do you think Debora ?

 

Well done ! Thank you

 

That’s great will build up the courage

 

Not useful for the determination of the age of the miniature, but here's another Tixier item
https://dcmny.org/do/a644aecd-7c76-4497-adc0-fce90dce911e

 

Love this charming piece!!!