Featured Help with miniature portrait

I bought this lovely 3” tall portrait despite the small nick in the glass in the hope that I would be able to open it, clean up the infestation of tiny thunder bugs and put it back together with the chipped glass to the reverse but I can’t find a way to open it.

There are what look to be six tiny pins around the edge which I guess are holding it together but I thought I’d ask here if any of you are familiar with frames like this and how they are constructed. It’s likely that it was never intended to be opened so I may have to resort to finding a professional.

 

Can't help but... lovely. And I've not seen a lock of hair arranged in an initial letter before.

Debora

 

The Gibbes Museum has an extensive miniatures collection and you can see on this page how some of them look when deconstructed. I don't know if you reached out, if they could assist you, but likely you would need the help of an estate jeweler anyway.

 

Thank you

 

ive had one before similar, and the pins were the only thing keeping it together, they usually secure into the painting backings, so its quite secure

looks like a few are missing, which is usually so

looks like watercolour on ivory from here, and more like the georgian examples, but perhaps deb can tell more by the clothing.

id check the gold content of the frame as well

id have a go myself, just being very careful, especially when putting the pins back in

 

Regency. Not an expert but suspect simplicity of fabric, bust and sleeves with slightly lower waist points to earlier in period rather than later. From the Jane Austen Centre's web site:

"In the early Regency (approximately 1797-1805), the most common style of dress for day wear was one that was very classic in feel and simple in style-- what we often think of toady as "typical Regency". It was high-waisted with a wide neckline and rather long sleeves."

Debora

 

Exquisite. The bugs would drive me mad though ! Id have to get them out .

 

I can see why you got it. It has an especially nice look.

I don't envy you the task of having to open it though. But agree, you've got to try! (Or find someone who can. )

 

I have small display shadow boxes....glass tops....with a pin closure on each side.

I believe your pendant should pop open....split in half, with the pins removed.
It looks , a snug fit, so a short sharp blade may bee needed to nudge the edges open.....& lining up the holes to close it again will be a delicate maneuver !

 

Problem is that the pins can’t be gripped as they are flush to the edge. They may have to be drilled out.

 

if anything, pushed in further........I wouldn't/\, drill that.....

but the pins may be magnetic...?

 

Agreed, it is Regency period. Those "Regency Curls" are a dead giveaway, and it appears the artist went mad for depicting then with detail!

 

In the end I got nowhere with opening it. Local jeweller didn’t think it possible without ruining the frame and a professional restorer quoted me £800 (including £140 to collect and deliver!!!!). The pins were too small to remove.

So I ended up having to remove the top bezel using a very sharp knife. The pieces are undamaged so a local jeweller is going to see if she can reassemble it and re-seal it for me with the unchipped glass to the front.

Here’s how she looks without the bugs.

I’ll let you know how she looks when finished.

 

800 pounds................ was he going to fly in from NY ..?

glad u could pop the frame with no damage !!! Well done !

 

congrats john, i dont get itchy fever looking at it now.

ive had similar problems with miniatures in the past and its a lovely feeling when its finally complete cleaned and back in a frame

 

She is absolutely lovely!!!!!!!!

 

She looks a little saucy ! Just gorgeous !

 

What a beautiful object! I hope it is all put back together soon.

 

She's with the jeweller - quoted two weeks.

 

She’s back from the jeweller