The Encyclopedia · Settings & techniques
Portrait miniature
A small painted portrait set in a locket, brooch or pendant.
Miniatures were painted on ivory, enamel or porcelain and were especially popular in the Georgian and Victorian periods, as tokens of love or remembrance.
What to look for
Check the painting for flaking and cracks, and the glass for damage. A miniature in its original frame is worth more than one reset later.
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