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John Miers, Portrait of a Man in Silhouette, 19th century, watercolor on ivory mounted under glass in a copper alloy pendant case; hair in basketweave pattern inset into reverse and mounted under glass, 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 x 1/4 in. (4.8 x 3.5 x .6 cm), Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of John W. Starr and Martha Jane Starr, 1969.3.4
John Miers, Portrait of a Man in Silhouette (verso), 19th century, watercolor on ivory mounted under glass in a copper alloy pendant case; hair in basketweave pattern inset into reverse and mounted under glass, 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 x 1/4 in. (4.8 x 3.5 x .6 cm), Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of John W. Starr and Martha Jane Starr, 1969.3.4
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John Miers, Portrait of a Man in Silhouette, 19th century

Artist John Miers (English, 1756–1821)
Title Portrait of a Man in Silhouette
Object Date 19th century
Medium Watercolor on ivory
Setting Copper alloy pendant case; hair in basketweave pattern inset into reverse and mounted under glass
Dimensions 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 x 1/4 in. (4.8 x 3.5 x .6 cm)
Credit Line Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of John W. Starr and Martha Jane Starr, 1969.3.4

doi: 10.37764/8322.5.4536

Provenance

Possibly sold, Fine Objects of Vertu, Watches, Enamels, Ivories, Portrait Miniatures, Etc., Sotheby’s, London, November 13, 1952, lot 145, as A Silhouette of a Man [1].

With E. Paine, by 1965 [2];

Purchased from E. Paine by Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1965–April 25, 1969;

Their gift to the Philbrook Art Center, now Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK, 1969.

Notes

[1] “A Silhouette of a Man, by Miers, in profile to sinister with a lock of hair on the reverse, 1 5/8 in.”

[2] As recorded in the Philbrook Museum of Art donor file. Likely Edward Grosvenor Paine (1911–1989/94), an antiques dealer who specialized in portrait miniatures.

References

Fine Objects of Vertu, Watches, Enamels, Ivories, Portrait Miniatures, Etc. (London: Sotheby’s, November 13, 1952), 15, as A Silhouette of a Man.

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John Miers, Portrait of a Man in Silhouette, 19th century, watercolor on ivory mounted under glass in a copper alloy pendant case; hair in basketweave pattern inset into reverse and mounted under glass, 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 x 1/4 in. (4.8 x 3.5 x .6 cm), Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of John W. Starr and Martha Jane Starr, 1969.3.4
John Miers, Portrait of a Man in Silhouette (verso), 19th century, watercolor on ivory mounted under glass in a copper alloy pendant case; hair in basketweave pattern inset into reverse and mounted under glass, 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 x 1/4 in. (4.8 x 3.5 x .6 cm), Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of John W. Starr and Martha Jane Starr, 1969.3.4
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