Is this an original miniature from the 19th century or a mid-20th century imitation on bone?

Yes, thank you very much! We need to look at the portraits. Yes, it is strange that they would glue a newspaper onto such an object)). Sometimes, of course, this can happen, if the restoration is inept. But when newspapers were glued en masse, is this a sign of a 20th century forgery?

 

Yes, although in some cases I don't think they were meant as a deception but just as a contemporary decorative object.

 

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Once upon a time they were sold in department stores and dime stores as decorative items, and everyone knew what they were. They were sold in the 20s and 30s and then later in the 50s. Now, they "look really old" and AI is no help, because machinese just aren't all that bright. They were never forgeries, just pretty.

 

As above. The printed backing is to add the illusion of age but not necessarily in a deceptive way.

Debora

 

@charlie cheswick
I love Sister Wendy!

 

Is this a real drawing or not? According to the owner of the item, there was old rotten velvet on the back, which was thrown out and replaced with a new one.

 

The white is a dead giveaway; it's an "enhanced" print. You can also see the waviness of the paper in one of the images. The back velvet may well have been replaced because fabric can fall apart. IIRC, the lady is Catherine the Great.

 

She was no lady.

Debora

 

I agree with @evelyb30 's assessment. That raised white effect is extremely common on the decorative pieces. Ask yourself: if the rest of the portrait is done which such smoothness of supposed brush strokes, why add crafty looking raised ones? Those are a sign of inexpensive retouching done to give the impression of a painted portrait when most of it isn't.

A QUEEN.