A wonderfully decorative French antique portrait miniature, depicting an elegant 18th-century lady in the romantic style associated with the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

The finely painted oval portrait shows the sitter with powdered grey hair dressed with a garland of pink and yellow flowers beneath a blue ribboned headdress. She wears a soft pink gown with lace-trimmed bodice and delicate jewellery, with tiny gilt highlights adding wonderful detail to the composition.

The miniature is housed in an exceptionally pretty gilt-metal oval frame, richly worked with scrolling foliage and floral ornament and surmounted by a pierced ribbon, floral and laurel crest. To the reverse is an integral folding easel stand, allowing it to sit beautifully on a dressing table, mantelpiece or amongst a collection of antique portrait miniatures.

The frame has developed a lovely mellow, darkened patina with areas of the original gilt finish still catching the light.

Date: Circa 1900

Origin: Continental European, probably French

Material: Gilt metal with hand-painted portrait miniature

Dimensions: Approx. 8.5 cm high × 6 cm wide

Condition: Good antique condition with expected age-related wear, patination and rubbing to the gilt metal. The portrait shows some small areas of age-related surface wear, visible in the photographs. The easel stand remains present and functional.

A particularly charming little Belle Époque boudoir piece, perfect displayed alongside antique perfume bottles, jewellery caskets and other French treasures.