Portrait Miniature with an Interior Scene of a Little Girl Wearing a White Dress

Description:

Portrait Miniature with an Interior Scene of a Little Girl Wearing a White Dress, J.B. Alexander, Charleston, South Carolina, c. 1840, unsigned, subject and artist identified on a paper label inscribed "Ann L. Hershman/5 years old/1840/Camden, S.C./By J.B. Alexander." Watercolor on ivory, 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 in., housed in an embossed brown leather case. Condition: Ivory slightly bowed, fine crack along right edge.
Estimate $3,000-5,000

The piece of ivory is slightly bowed along on the right and left sides with a fine crack along right side about 1/8-1/4 in. from edge, small unobtrusive scratch on tabletop, two tiny ones on table shaft, and two tiny scratches on lower wall left of girl. Case is missing a portion of one clasp, brass liner is a little bent on one area and split on one corner, and the leather is scuffed.

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