RARE c. 1700s French Portrait Miniature, 18k Gold Frame, Pendant, Hair Art Mourning, Artist Signed
The frame has gone through assay in France, which is required with all auctioned goods, and so you will find the tiny eagle's head profile punch marks here and there to guarantee it is solid 18k gold. The mark was used from 1838 onward, but this portrait pre-dates that by 70 years, give or take a little. The gentleman in his elegant attire and hair style is a figure of the era c.1750-80, and the painting is signed by artist "Tessier". Larger than most of these locket-type frames which hinge at top and have 2 rings at bottom, which would have originally been held closed by a tiny heart-shaped lock, a tiny working key attached to it with a gold chain. This one is missing the heart - a popular item sold off or lost through time. The locket frame does hold tightly closed there, however. I didn't open it at all, worrying I'd dislodge the original hair art worked on the backside. While I have given it an additional clean and polish after seeing these greatly enlarged photos showing a little