Antique French Revolution Portrait Miniature, Blue Coat, 18k Gold Frame, Pendant?

The tiny tiny marks on that bale up top confirm the gold fronted frame on this c.1770-1810 portrait miniature is 18k gold. One small lobe at the top is missing, as you can see, but it’s just lovely. The painting is very small, really, and yet has incredible life and detail. A handsome young man, he wears the red vest showing at the neck, often iconographical for someone who was a Royalist, whose family or supported society met the guillotine during The Terror. The stick pin he wears, tiny dot that it is, also seems to be a skull, doesn’t it? A true gem, from my own collection. It’s only been on display, and I never did have an 18k bale added so it could be worn as a pendant, but perhaps you’ll want to. He remains as he arrived from France. Full measurements are noted on the photos, but it is just 2″ x 1.5″ oval. Look at that incredibly fine little painting! Can be thought of as jewelry, since it is 18k gold and locket or pendant sized.

Very good to excellent condition with a nod to the tiny single missing 18k gold lobe on the frame. The very tiny French control marks stamped on the bale confirm, as did our acid test, that it is 18k gold. I tried to get a clearer enlargement of them, but they’re just too tiny for my lens capability. One needs a loupe. The original slightly convex cover glass has done a fine job of preserving and protecting this miniature. It is painted on very thin wafer, in gouache, true to the genre and time. Pressed, I would date it c.1800.