Young Woman in Gold with Butterfly, Verre Eglomise Miniature, c. 1830s black cow an old center fold

an old center fold

base 3 1/4” d

with 4 holes evenly spaced around the top perimeter

But what really makes it is its fantastic surface

Young Woman in Gold with Butterfly, Verre Eglomise Miniature, c. 1830s black cow an old center foldThis is a reverse glass painted (verre glomis) miniature engraving in original gold toned (brass I believe) frame, c. 1830s and French. One sees the lids of French patch boxes and bon bon containers executed in this manner, but this appears only to have ever been a portrait, with original papered reverse enclosed by the teeth of the frame. And with the golden butterfly at her shoulder the hinge of the painting, rationalizing the revealing concealing,