This page is III. Check out pages I and II as well. Wanna read every post I published so far? Click the archives on all three pages. You will be rewarded with a weekend of fun and informative reading on the subject.Sunday, February 26, 2012
Silhouettes in the City
One of our readers, Janet, sends us the following:
I am writing this because so many of you reproach me, gently it is true, but, none the less reproach it is and nothing else. “Of course,” you say, “you live in country and it is easy for you to find these lovely old things in garrets and attics, and at the wayside collector’s shrine of auctions. But we who live in city, what are we to do about it?” Now I am happy that I live in the country; I am a converted cockney, and I would not for one moment dispute the happiness of my antique pursuits here among the hills. But the real truth of the matter is that the better bargains are in the city. You must of course, know how to look for them and where. . .
Any city, particularly one along the eastern coast, is full of small inexpensive old-furniture shops, and places where second hand goods are sold, and little auction rooms – even big auction rooms on a rainy day or at an off season – hold many genuine bargains, things that you might seek for years in the country and never find. (Alice Van Leer Carrick, Collector’s Luck, 1919)
Very little has changed in the almost 100 years since Carrick wrote these words. I have lived in Washington for almost 20 years and have indeed had some incredible luck in the city. Church rummage sales, Goodwill, consignment stores, apartment sales – and even some of the most upscale antique stores and auction rooms – can yield some true treasures.
Case in point: last weekend my husband and I were in Alexandria, Virginia, leisurely strolling along Old Town’s main drag, perusing the fashionable boutiques and ducking into fancy antique stores to “ooh” and “ahh” over Chippendale chairs and fine Federal dressers. While my husband was wincing over the $15,000 price tag for an Empire sofa, I noticed a group of silhouettes in the corner. Two hollow-cut pieces in particular caught my interest. No price tags (of course), and I almost walked out without inquiring. But then curiosity got the better of me. Well, let’s just say that we left with both silhouettes in hand for less than the cost of our lunch and two glasses of wine.
The second, a simple hollow cut, has overall water damage, as well as some insect damage along the edges. There is also a small loss to the paper, just above the gentleman’s collar, where his tie should be. When I opened it up to clean the glass and replace the wood backing with acid-free board, I discovered some old pieces of newspaper, dating to 1834, including an announcement for Nicholas J. Ash’s famous hot-air balloon ascent in Washington on July 30, 1834 (a real bit of local history), and the summer steamer schedules to Norfolk and Charleston. The insect damage on the newspaper is consistent with the damage on the silhouette.
B. M. Jones writes:
These two silhouettes are a good find. The frames are certainly period, if not original to these silhouettes. Worn spots can simply be replastered and paint to match. The trick is to use a bit of primer before replastering. Take it from me. I once had to replaster the living room ceiling three times cause I was too stupid not to prime the first two times. Finally, got it done right on my third try. I wasted a lot of time and energy.
The Chamberlain-like/Banton-like silhouette has suffered damage to the paper from bleeding of the black cloth. It is not in the best shape for sure. But because the spots are a bit away from the profile, most of them could be covered by making an oval mat using black acid-free paper. I tried my hand on it coloring around the silhouette. This is a lousy job (try making an oval moving the mouse, tough to do), but I think you get my point. Drawing stars at four corners makes the mat a little more interesting. If you grew up in the 60s, peace symbol may be fun to apply. As for the other silhouette, the toning is not too bad and can be enjoyed as it is.
I don't know what dine and wine in Alexandia go for, but I am sure these two frames alone are worth more than the lunch.
Janet follows:
That is awesome! I love your solution to the mold problem. It made me laugh! My husband is now plotting how to make an eglomise mat. Incidentally, he said the exact same thing about the frames alone being worth the price. I doubt we'll have such a good find again. BTW, there is one small typo (my fault), the date of the balloon ascent was July 30, 1834 (not 1934).
Then B. M. Jones:
Any black construction paper will do. Like most things, I get mine from Walmart. The paper package contains about six different colors and sell for about two bucks. They are acid-free! The most difficult thing is cutting a perfect oval. You could buy a plastic gadget that cuts ovals in different sizes; however, the problem is that it cuts tall ovals.
But I guess Janet's husband is thinking of making a glass mat? First, he would need a glass. I suggest buying a glassed frame at a dollar store that is more than twice the size of what he needs to cut, just in case he messes up in his first try. He would need to use the two "true" sides of that glass. This way he needs to cut only two other sides. I hope he does not work using inches. Gotta go metric. He has to remember, too, that silhouette frames are not perfectly rectangular. After correct measurements are taken, it is time to cut. If he draws cutting lines, do not cut the glass outside of these lines. If he does, the glass will be a hair bigger than the frame fitting, and it ain't gonna fit. And, it is impossible to cut off the tiny excess. In other words, it is best to cut the glass slightly smaller. For blackening it, he needs to get baking kinda gouache. Unbaking kind will smear and peel. Perhaps he would send us a photo once he completes his project.
Janet responds:
Just a quick note on construction paper. I would strongly advise against using it anywhere near something you want to preserve long term. Even though it says "acid-free" does not actually mean that it is. All construction paper is made primarily from recycled papers, most of which contains wood pulp (which is bad, bad, bad) and degrades quickly. So even if it actually starts off as "acid free" it will not stay that way for long. Certainly the newer construction papers are better than they used to be, but they are still bad papers. To be on the safe side, always use archival quality, acid-free (or buffered) cotton rag board for mounting or backing works on paper or paper documents.
Construction paper is the bane of my existance, so I feel pretty strongly about it!
I am writing this because so many of you reproach me, gently it is true, but, none the less reproach it is and nothing else. “Of course,” you say, “you live in country and it is easy for you to find these lovely old things in garrets and attics, and at the wayside collector’s shrine of auctions. But we who live in city, what are we to do about it?” Now I am happy that I live in the country; I am a converted cockney, and I would not for one moment dispute the happiness of my antique pursuits here among the hills. But the real truth of the matter is that the better bargains are in the city. You must of course, know how to look for them and where. . .
Any city, particularly one along the eastern coast, is full of small inexpensive old-furniture shops, and places where second hand goods are sold, and little auction rooms – even big auction rooms on a rainy day or at an off season – hold many genuine bargains, things that you might seek for years in the country and never find. (Alice Van Leer Carrick, Collector’s Luck, 1919)
Very little has changed in the almost 100 years since Carrick wrote these words. I have lived in Washington for almost 20 years and have indeed had some incredible luck in the city. Church rummage sales, Goodwill, consignment stores, apartment sales – and even some of the most upscale antique stores and auction rooms – can yield some true treasures.
Case in point: last weekend my husband and I were in Alexandria, Virginia, leisurely strolling along Old Town’s main drag, perusing the fashionable boutiques and ducking into fancy antique stores to “ooh” and “ahh” over Chippendale chairs and fine Federal dressers. While my husband was wincing over the $15,000 price tag for an Empire sofa, I noticed a group of silhouettes in the corner. Two hollow-cut pieces in particular caught my interest. No price tags (of course), and I almost walked out without inquiring. But then curiosity got the better of me. Well, let’s just say that we left with both silhouettes in hand for less than the cost of our lunch and two glasses of wine.
Neither is signed, embossed, or identified, and both have some condition issues, primarily water and mold damage (not entirely surprising in a town that floods regularly). The first, a hollow cut with a partially inked bust, hair and eyebrows (love those bushy eyebrows). There is clear water and mold damage to the left half of the paper, but amazingly the silhouette is intact. The frame is in slightly rough shape with some loss to the gilding and poor repairs, but clearly original.
The second, a simple hollow cut, has overall water damage, as well as some insect damage along the edges. There is also a small loss to the paper, just above the gentleman’s collar, where his tie should be. When I opened it up to clean the glass and replace the wood backing with acid-free board, I discovered some old pieces of newspaper, dating to 1834, including an announcement for Nicholas J. Ash’s famous hot-air balloon ascent in Washington on July 30, 1834 (a real bit of local history), and the summer steamer schedules to Norfolk and Charleston. The insect damage on the newspaper is consistent with the damage on the silhouette.
These two silhouettes are a good find. The frames are certainly period, if not original to these silhouettes. Worn spots can simply be replastered and paint to match. The trick is to use a bit of primer before replastering. Take it from me. I once had to replaster the living room ceiling three times cause I was too stupid not to prime the first two times. Finally, got it done right on my third try. I wasted a lot of time and energy.
The Chamberlain-like/Banton-like silhouette has suffered damage to the paper from bleeding of the black cloth. It is not in the best shape for sure. But because the spots are a bit away from the profile, most of them could be covered by making an oval mat using black acid-free paper. I tried my hand on it coloring around the silhouette. This is a lousy job (try making an oval moving the mouse, tough to do), but I think you get my point. Drawing stars at four corners makes the mat a little more interesting. If you grew up in the 60s, peace symbol may be fun to apply. As for the other silhouette, the toning is not too bad and can be enjoyed as it is. I don't know what dine and wine in Alexandia go for, but I am sure these two frames alone are worth more than the lunch.
Janet follows:
That is awesome! I love your solution to the mold problem. It made me laugh! My husband is now plotting how to make an eglomise mat. Incidentally, he said the exact same thing about the frames alone being worth the price. I doubt we'll have such a good find again. BTW, there is one small typo (my fault), the date of the balloon ascent was July 30, 1834 (not 1934).
Then B. M. Jones:
Any black construction paper will do. Like most things, I get mine from Walmart. The paper package contains about six different colors and sell for about two bucks. They are acid-free! The most difficult thing is cutting a perfect oval. You could buy a plastic gadget that cuts ovals in different sizes; however, the problem is that it cuts tall ovals.
But I guess Janet's husband is thinking of making a glass mat? First, he would need a glass. I suggest buying a glassed frame at a dollar store that is more than twice the size of what he needs to cut, just in case he messes up in his first try. He would need to use the two "true" sides of that glass. This way he needs to cut only two other sides. I hope he does not work using inches. Gotta go metric. He has to remember, too, that silhouette frames are not perfectly rectangular. After correct measurements are taken, it is time to cut. If he draws cutting lines, do not cut the glass outside of these lines. If he does, the glass will be a hair bigger than the frame fitting, and it ain't gonna fit. And, it is impossible to cut off the tiny excess. In other words, it is best to cut the glass slightly smaller. For blackening it, he needs to get baking kinda gouache. Unbaking kind will smear and peel. Perhaps he would send us a photo once he completes his project.
Janet responds:
Just a quick note on construction paper. I would strongly advise against using it anywhere near something you want to preserve long term. Even though it says "acid-free" does not actually mean that it is. All construction paper is made primarily from recycled papers, most of which contains wood pulp (which is bad, bad, bad) and degrades quickly. So even if it actually starts off as "acid free" it will not stay that way for long. Certainly the newer construction papers are better than they used to be, but they are still bad papers. To be on the safe side, always use archival quality, acid-free (or buffered) cotton rag board for mounting or backing works on paper or paper documents.
Construction paper is the bane of my existance, so I feel pretty strongly about it!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thanks to Janet, one of our readers, I am able to update the posting of Sunday, July 3, 2011. I thought my find was unique, but Janet had found an exact same bust in the collection of Connecticut Historical Society. It is therein described as: about 1830; silhouette and wood-engraving; cut paper with black printer's ink on black painted paper in gilt frame under glass; half-length profile portrait of a girl, facing right, wearing a dress with a high waistline and long sleeves with small puffs at the shoulders.
The note attached to this silhouette reads, "The use of a wood-engraved body in combination with the cut-paper silhouette portrait is reminiscent of the work of the Letterpress Artist of Connecticut. However, only the family registers associated with the Letterpress Artist's work were printed; the bodies and clothing of the sitters were either part of the cut-paper silhouette or were drawn by hand. (Finlay 8/31/2010)"
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
One of our readers, Janet, writes:
I am attaching some photos of a pair of silhouettes I found in Michigan over Christmas. Both are hollow cut, on wove paper, measuring about 4 x 3 1/2 inches. They are not signed. The frames are painted black and are just slightly mismatched. The glass is a light purple color ~ like that wonderful purple glass one sees in the old windows of Federal houses on Beacon Hill in Boston (the discoloration of the glass caused by adding too much maganese oxide added during the manufacturing process).
Anyway, I have followed the discussion on your blog regarding Banton v. Chamberlain, and wonder what you think of this pair (I think HE looks an awful lot like a Banton). While the color and body of the man seem typical, I have never seen anything quite like the the cutting of the woman's bodice and her pleated collar.
Many thanks again for your fabulous blog. I wish there were more resources like it for specialized scholarly discussions such as you facilitate.
B. M. Jones writes:
We thank Janet for sending us nicely taken photos. Because they are not signed, we do not know who the artist is. But I believe Banton is a fitting attribution. These silhouettes would date from the 1820s, based on the woman's frilled collar. It is amazing how this pair stayed together all these years, condition matching. It is unusual to see this frilled collar done so nicely on silhouettes. I once owned a fully painted silhouette with this type of collar (it was illustrated in the blog some years ago).
The cloth backings have faded. Replacing them with black velvet would do wonders. Also, the wooden backings have toned the paper. I would highly suggest inserting acid-free paper or card between the board and the black cloth. This pair is a great find!
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