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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Mat on April 26, 2017, 03:07:49 am
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Hi all,
I got stuck trying to decipher the writing I found inside the frame of this miniature portrait (9.5cm). I have some ideas on some of the words, but I do not want to influence you in your reading. Any suggestion, especially on the artist's name, are highly appreciated!
Thank you,
Mat
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Sorry for the double post, please remove one!
Thanks,
Mat
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What I can read quickly,,,Miniature by Florence_______? Asher Craft Studio, ______Fork I think it may be Little Fork !!
Or could be Aiken Craft Studio !! Not sure about the Little Fork, that looks like a Y at the end !!
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Or....the last word could be "York."
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Thank you both! I have posted this in other places, too, and I think so far the reading is sure for "Miniature by Florence ????????, Ashen Croft studio, Ilkley, Yorks(hire), just the last name of the artist still remains a mystery. I have searched, but no miniature painter from Ilkley turned up so far...
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LOL !! York,,Fork !! Got close !! ;D Was thinking USA,, not UK !! Helps to know where to look !! Never heard of Ilkley before !!
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I will take a crack at the last name.
Sfruneille Straneille Strsueille
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Looks like Storamaille. The suffix maille of a last name is used in France and Ireland.
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I was thinking the 1st letter of the last name was an "H" .... not an "S". ::)
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Thank you Pelady, KC and cogar! I searched all variants and still nothing. She seems to be unknown. I have to check if it is in fact a photo miniature ( an overpainted photograph). That would explain that I cannot find any info on the artist....
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Mat - has this been removed from the mount and appraised ? It looks like a touched up photo from what i'm seeing.
There are only a couple of mentions of Ashen Croft on the net, which could be errors. And the surname - it's an i and then double l and not double t
I'd also wondered if it could have been Askew Craft Studio.
Whichever way i look at it - i'm not sure the name is relevant to the value.
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I have tried every which way to look up using this great online free source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland
http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677764.001.0001/acref-9780199677764?btog=chap&hide=true&pageSize=10&skipEditions=true&sort=titlesort&source=%2F10.1093%2Facref%2F9780199677764.001.0001%2Facref-9780199677764 (http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677764.001.0001/acref-9780199677764?btog=chap&hide=true&pageSize=10&skipEditions=true&sort=titlesort&source=%2F10.1093%2Facref%2F9780199677764.001.0001%2Facref-9780199677764)
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Thank you KC, interesting resource!
Ipcress, it has not been appraised, but I had a look inside myself. The note was also inside, not visible when the frame is closed. It is painted on ivory, but as I have learned now, they printed photos on ivory as a base for miniature paintings at least from the 1860s, so still it could be the case. I tried to make a detail picture of the face, are there any signs that make you sure that it is a touched up photo? I am not interested in it's value, just trying to research it out of interest...
Mat
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Here is a description of the process of printing a photo on ivory from 1861: http://albumen.conservation-us.org/library/c19/fry.html
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"WOW" ......... is all I can say after reading that "printing" process description.
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I second that "WOW" cogar! What a process!
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When I enlarged that last pic,,of course you lose some detail,, but the more I look at it the more it does look like a photo !! Especially the eyes !! You should be able to see some brush strokes on the face but I can`t see any !! Just highlights and shadows that are enhanced,,cheeks & lips touched up ect !!
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Thank you mart, yes, you ate right, especially the nose looks more like a photo...
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That's what i was looking at, Mat. The hair and face lacks any sign of brush strokes other than the " hightened white ". The ears...it just has the appearance of a touched up photo.
The very fine grooves and swirls in ivory can make watercolours appear different over time and i've seen some incredible miniatures where you couldn't spot a brushstroke unless you used a magnifying glass.
Here's an example :
(http://media.vam.ac.uk/feature/lightbox/v1/popup/2006ag1423_man_meyer.jpg)
However, this one, with that heightened white...
Plus the word " studio ". Always used in relation to photography back in the day and rarely just artwork.
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Thank you, that is a great one, Ipcress!
Mat
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Thank you both! I have posted this in other places, too, and I think so far the reading is sure for "Miniature by Florence ????????, Ashen Croft studio, Ilkley, Yorks(hire), just the last name of the artist still remains a mystery. I have searched, but no miniature painter from Ilkley turned up so far...
I thought it looks like:
Miniature by Florence Honeille
Asken Groff Studio
Glenley, York
Or something like that.
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Okay, so when I glanced at the signature, I thought I saw an Italian name in there somewhere! But, having lived in Italy a bit, I do that from time to time (yes, it sounds unusual)...Oh and perhaps an amersand :)
So for the heck of it...I tried Florence Casartelli. And, the following search result appeared:
http://www.cartedevisite.co.uk/studios/england/
The link has information of photographers from Great Britain and Ireland from 1840-1940. There is a Croft Studio listed as well as an Ashton.
As far as photographers in England, there are two which caught my eye: Florence Cary and J. Casartelli. So maybe there was some extra curricular activity going on in the workplace and the two photographers hooked up! Based on this speculation, I believe the miniature is perhaps by Florence & J Casartelli.
The photography site does offer research options, but they only accept PayPal if you have an interest to investigate the miniature on ivory a bit more!
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SophieMarie, thank you so much for researching this for me! The idea of the Italian name is interesting, but I think I found the actual photographer's name on the page you gave me in the link! In the list of photographers appears the name Horsnaille, Florence, and I think this must be the one!
Mat
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I found her in another document: "Florence Horsnaill
2,39
was born on 15 Feb 1872 in Dover, Kent and died Q2 1954 in Redruth, Cornwall.
Basic notes:
She worked as a Photographic artist and Miniature painter. She was living in 1911 in 54 The Grove, Ilkley, Yorkshire."
http://www.pennyghael.org.uk/Horsnaill.pdf
Thank you again, you helped me very much to solve the mystery!
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In 1906 she lived in another place, Folkestone near Dover, so this portrait has to be later than that...
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Another brownie point for SophieMarie !! Excellent research !!
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Glad you found it Mat! And, Mart, please throw chocolate instead of brownie points ha!
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Ahhh !! Now I know your weak point,,chocolate !!