THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE DAVID R. SOMERVELL, ESQ. REMOVED FROM HOLLY HOUSE, MONTROSE.

A PAIR OF CHINESE-EXPORT REVERSE MIRROR PAINTINGS-ON-GLASS

LATE 18TH CENTURY, IN REGENCY FRAMES

Details

A PAIR OF CHINESE-EXPORT REVERSE MIRROR PAINTINGS-ON-GLASS
Late 18th Century, in Regency frames
One depicting Elizabeth Graham, half length, wearing a blue dress and seated by a round red-draped table with a basket of flowers, flanked by exotic birds in bamboo and a tree, a watery landscape beyond, the other depicting Christian Graham, half length, wearing a blue dress and seated by a rectangular red-draped table her elbow resting on a book, with conforming trees and further exotic birds, a watery landscape beyond, each in a black and gilt-japanned slip depicting Chinamen, buildings and utensils, in a giltwood and composition rectangular frame with simulated basketwork bolection-moulded outer part, the corners with a bearded mask amidst acanthus, the apron and cresting with entwined serpents and hung with bells
Overall: one 51¼ x 35 in. (130 x 89 cm.), the other 51¾ x 34½ in. (131.5 x 87.5 cm.) (2)

Provenance

By repute commissioned by Mr. Lennox of Lennox Castle, Stirlingshire and by descent until sold around the time of a house sale, 20-22 November 1922 when purchased by
Helena Graham and given to the Graham-Stirlings of Strowan, Perthshire and by descent.

Lot Essay

This magnificent pair of Chinese reverse mirror paintings was commissioned by Mr. Lennox of Lennox Castle, Stirlingshire to accompany a third of himself. According to family tradition, Lennox was so enamoured of the young Elizabeth Graham (1764-1820), that when he returned to work in China he took miniatures of both her and her twin sister, Christian (1764-1847) and commissioned the three paintings. To symbolise his love for Elizabeth, he had the rare Silver Pheasant painted beside her, while the more common Golden Pheasant was portrayed beside Christian. Although Mr. Lennox never married Elizabeth, the paintings hung at Lennox Castle until their sale circa 1922, when they passed into the present owner's family who are descended from Elizabeth and Christian's sister, Mary. Elizabeth Graham married John Dundas of Ochtertyre in 1794, so the paintings must date from before then. The three sisters were the daughters of William Graham of Airth, Stirlingshire.

A related frame embellished with 'India' heads, serpents and bells was formerly in the Joel collection at Childwick Bury, St. Albans, Hertfordshire and sold from Childwick Bury, Christie's house sale, 15 May 1978, lot 54.

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