Portrait Miniatures

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83133 Carey Portrait Miniature Locket of Woman in Black with Small Lens in Verso AFT CROP.jpg

82413 Katcher Sisters Portrait Mini on Ivory BEF CROP.jpg

Restoring Portrait Miniatures

Nearly fifty years ago, Bill Wiebold began studying portrait miniatures and developing what would become the bedrock of Wiebold Studio’s portrait miniature restoration process. Wiebold Studio is one of only a handful of firms nationwide that specializes in this fascinating corner of the portraiture world. Due to their small size, and extensive handling over decades or even centuries, portrait miniatures commonly display many of these issues:

Exposure to humidity/moisture: warping, cracking, mildew spots
Physical damage: scratches, breaks, chips
Loose or missing elements: hairwork, pearls & jewels, wire, fabric
Damaged Frames/Cases: broken lenses, scratches and scuffs, dents, tarnish
Discoloration: dirt & debris beneath the lens, metal tarnishing, color shifting due to light, water damage, or growth of mold & mildew

Portrait miniatures are minute and detailed renderings, oftentimes created to document prominent figures in society, exchanged by engaged couples or family members living apart, or to commemorate a loved one lost.

Typically painted in watercolor on either ivory or vellum, or in oil on copper, they can be housed in miniature frames, lockets, or brooches, or may be tiny enough to be worn as a ring.

Many have a decorative verso featuring hairwork displayed as a plait, weave, fan, or intricate pictorial scene, sometimes embellished with seed pearls or gold thread.

Frames and Cases

Like the portraits they contain and protect, portrait miniature frames are unique - designed to fit one miniature, and no other.
Our conservators can expertly craft custom lenses, bezels, hangers, hinges, and entire lockets, each appropriate to the time period & style of any portrait.

Wondering what
you’ve got?

See our catalog below to discover when your miniature was created.
Does your locket or frame have issues not addressed in our catalog?
Our metalsmiths and conservators have solutions for any issue you may have. please call or email with any questions or project specifics.

Portrait Miniature identification catalog

The frame or case for a portrait miniature is unique as the miniature itself.

The portrait miniature frame, case, or locket provides vital protection for the miniature from potentially damaging environmental factors. Each is custom designed and fabricated to perfectly fit its unique portrait. The catalog below is an overview of the custom reproduction frames offered by our Studio - ever expanding and changing to meet the varied needs of our miniature collectors…

1510 - 1720

From 1510 - 1720 the style of the miniature frame remained fairly consistent. The frame had a curved lens set in an inner stepped bezel. The frame was half round with a half round hanger and curled tapered ornaments. Typically the finish was 24k gold. (i.e. # 1510 - 101) Around 1620 we notice a slight change in the style, the miniatures tend to be larger hence a larger hanger typically doubled, and the finish trends towards sterling silver. (i.e. #1510 - 102)

1720 - 1775

Circa 1720 American artists began painting miniatures and creating their own style of frame. Often though they would copy the English so using frames from the 1510 - 1720 period would be appropriate. A popular style during this period is a curved lens set in a plain bezel with a plain hanger on the back. The hanger is located one of three positions based on the needs of the wearer. The color is typically rose gold.

1775-1810

During this period you will see the greatest variety in components. The general construction remains consistent with a bezel for the lens, frame (edge) and hanger. The hanger style varies throughout this period, as did the edges, most often seen are knife-edge, half round or millgraine. The color is typically rose gold. Often during this period the back of the frame is another lens to display either hair or fabric.

1810-1850

Many miniatures in this period, and later on, were not worn but rater hung on the wall. The papier-mache style frames are available with either a plain or patterned border and one of five finials. This frame will have a flat lens and a spacer or metal mat, to keep the miniature from touching the glass. In this style the borders and finials are typically gold in color.

1820-1860

The miniature frames that were worn during this period were much more ornate than their predecessors. These miniatures were typically framed with a cast floral border. The back may have a lens to display hair or fabric. These frames would typically be gold in color.

HOW TO GET STARTED

We'd love to talk to you about your piece. You can email a photo and description of your portrait miniature, or reach us via phone here.

Are you local? Come for a visit and have a conservation conversation in person.