Item: Wonderful mourning miniature with a dog,
cherub, etc.
Reference #: amour
Status: sold
Dimensions: 2.25 inches in
diameter
Condition: excellent; some scratches on the crystal;
the last few letters of "l'amitie" are smudged
Year: 1770-90
Description: This is an exquisite French mourning miniature.
Written on the miniature in French is, "L'amour et l'amitie te les decouvre", which
means:
"Together, they discovered love and friendship."
The
miniature has many symbols of loss and mourning:
The
dog by the tomb, representing fidelity; the tombstone is heart shaped and on
it are forget-me-nots; a drape is over the tombstone is being pulled back by the cherub and the
lady...revealing the forget-me-nots. Hovering above the headstone is a cherub holding a flaming torch
symbolizing undying or everlasting love. At the base of the headstone
lies a quiver and arrows which was also used to symbolize love. This
touching miniature is made from hair and paint on ivory. This is
one of the nicest mourning miniatures I have had in a long time. The
setting is 18kt. rose gold and the back is tortoiseshell.
To see more photos of this item, please
click here: photo1 and photo2 and
photo3
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