1829 Antique PORTRAIT MINIATURE PAINTING, James Clement

Buyer pays $8.50 for professional packing and insured shipping.(That is for U.S. LOWER 48 only. Elsewhere in the known Universe - request quote.)

---

.

I'm starting something today.
For several months I've been putting aside items I think would make terrific Christmas presents for anyone interested in antiques and/or rare collectible items. Most all the things are from about ten estates in southern Indiana and southwesern Ohio. Some, such as this portrait miniature, even have quite a lot of historical significance. It is from an estate in Bartholomew County, Indiana, whose ancestors migrated from England, and, even before the Revolutionary War, became significant landowners in the Philadelphia area.

I guess this fabulous miniature portrait, painted on card, is from part of the family who came to America after the Revolution. It is artist signed and dated 1829. It remains in its original frame, and it's in very fine condition. Let's take a close look.

Seldom do I find miniature portraits, but even more rarely do I find such beautiful work. The artist is James Clement, but more on that in a jiffy.

What a nice little acorn mount for the ring hanger!

The lacquered wood frame is 5" by 4", and the oval portrait on card is 3" by 2 1/4".

The convex glass, the painting and the leather backing are all held in place by those little points, which can be bent out to remove the piece. (While I had it out, I cut an oval of acid proof paper, which I put between the painting and the leather.)

Here at 341, I have two "Prime Directives:"
First: I never, under any circumstances, use a reserve, and everything starts at $9, sometimes even less.
Second: I don't clean, repair, or otherwise monkey around with anything. I push enough dust aside to note any flaws, but if I discovered it in some dusty attic, you can look forward to a little dust on it when it gets to your house. If it has a flaw or a wart, I'll tell you about it.
So rest easy and have some fun. Why not place a little tiny bid right now so's you don't forget about it later.

Now's when it really gets interesting. The leather is on the left. There is a bit of ink writing on the back of it, but the most significant information is in pencil on the back of the painting itself.

"Painted by James Clement - Worcester - May 1829."
I've found several references to James Clement (sometimes "Clements") including one who exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy in London between 1818 and 1831. Most believe this James Clement to be the miniaturist who lived in London and also in Worcester at 62 Broad Street. I even found a reference to one of his works that quoted the pencil signature on the reverse of the card. It said "Painted by James Clement, Worcester, 1821."

This intriguing portrait of a very young man wearing a waistcoat with brass buttons descended through the family whose ancestors included "Captain Collins" of the Revolutionary War. He was a major landowner around Philadelphia even before the war.

That's all I know - except that I have many items from the estate, and many of them are very, very old and very, very interesting. Stay tuned. I guarantee you'll be thrilled with this rare piece of history.

GOOD LUCK

Buyer pays $7.50 for professional packing and insured shipping.(That is for U.S. Lower 48 only. Elsewhere in the known Universe - request quote.) All Customs forms will state actual selling price of items shipped internationally.