Set of eight portrait miniatures, Europe, 19th–20th centuries.

Set of eight portrait miniatures, Europe, 19th–20th centuries.
Gouache on panel, with gilded metal borders and individual frames made from organic material, possibly bone or ivory.
Displayed together in a modern display frame.
Measurements: 58 × 53 cm (total frame); 15.5 × 13.5 cm (larger miniatures, with frames); 10.5 × 9 cm (smaller miniatures, with frames).

The set comprises eight bust portraits inspired by 18th-century European court models. The powdered wigs, ornate dresses, and men’s uniforms evoke the aristocratic repertoire of the Rococo and early Neoclassicism, reinterpreted in an intimate, collector’s format.

Each miniature is set within an oval gilded metal border and a geometric frame composed of small panels, featuring incised decorations of floral, radial, and linear motifs. The variety of sizes and designs makes each piece unique, while their collective presentation revives the tradition of portrait galleries and cabinets of curiosities.