$12,000
American School, 19th Century Double Silhouette Portraits of a Lady and Gentleman with Cupid and Hearts. Unsigned. Hollow cut paper over black fabric depicting bust-length portraits of a lady with ruffled neckline and upswept hair facing a gentleman in a waistcoat, enclosed in sawtooth borders, between them a figure of Cupid rises on a cloud-like formation, with stenciled hearts and diamond accents, (minor toning), sight size 4 1/2 x 7 1/2 in., original gilt stenciled frame. Note: A double silhouette portrait with similar decoration and frame was sold at Sotheby's Important Americana Auction , New York, no. 7959, January 15, 16, and 18, 2004, lot 335. Literature: These two figures are similar to works done by an unknown artist whose work is illustrated in American Folk Portraits: Paintings and Drawings from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, published by the New York Graphic Society, Boston, in association with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1981, figures 252 and 253 on p. 257, and in Folk Art Magazine , Fall 2001, p. 45. u.l. corner with light stain, slight horizontal crease c.l. edge, paper mat is toned, approx. about 7 very small light spots (bleached appearing) on paper mat .
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-02-19
