Antique French Napoleon Era Portrait Miniature in 18k Gold Locket Frame, ID’d Artist: Julie BOILY, c.1810

Artist signed: J. Boily (active 1810-1826) Lyon, France.

A superb Napoleon era portrait miniature of a beautiful woman, her gown and jewelry and the outdoor setting combine to a thrilling museum quality portrait. Youth and beauty, a palpable natural sensuality (and a visible nipple, so also a ‘naughty’ category), she wears the red sash/cape that tells us she was likely a Royalist who lost someone to the guillotine, during “The Terror”, late 1700s. She wears the hairstyle and Empire gown popular in the Greecian/Roman Revival French Empire. Her bracelet looks to be a portrait miniature with woven hair, perhaps also telling the story of her loss – a parent or grandparent? The mysterious little country house in distance has meaning, too, but we can’t begin to know that story.  All in all, a superb composition and exceptionally fine miniature. Well worthy of the 18k gold hinged locket style oyster frame (wider in center, tapers to outer edges). Gold marks in tiny punch on the bale but the entire frame tests 18k. There is also a loop through the bale. 

Very good to excellent condition throughout. It has no damage at all, having been treasures for 220 years by now. The gold frame is also in very nice condition with almost no evidence of use, no serious dings, dents at all. Both sides have original slightly convex cover glass, and coiled into the backside is a long lock of brunette hair with a few strands of gray. The round frame is 2 3/4″ in diameter, plus bale. I have included information on the artist, found in 2 references and on the auction documents out of France. Signature at about 7 o’clock position. The artist is from Lyon, listed well: Julie Boily (active 1805-1826). Gouache/watercolor on thin natural wafer 

IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don’t hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we’re totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world. 

Our offering exceeds the age limitation of “more than 100 years of age”, and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.