JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1742/1743-1811)

Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more

Details

JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1742/1743-1811)
A young lady called Miss Rigby, in fur-trimmed blue silk bodice over lace-trimmed chemise, with pearl decoration, a scarf in her upswept chestnut hair
signed with initials and dated 'JS / 1778' (lower left)
on ivory
oval, 2.1/8 in. (53 mm.) high, blue enamel and gold frame with diamond-studded blue enamel border, the reverse with hairwork within diamond-studded blue glass border and seed-pearl surround

Provenance

With D. S. Lavender (Antiques) Ltd., in 1999.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Brought to you by

Katharine Cooke

kcooke@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2343

Lot Essay

The potential identification of the sitter as Miss Rigby is based on a slightly larger version with identical signature and date, first sold by Karl Ernst Henrici at Haehnel, Berlin, 17 April 1920, lot 148, and later in the collection of Max von Bleichert, Leipzig, part II sold Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 9 December 1931, lot 500 (670 Reichsmark).

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