American School (19th Century), Portrait Miniature of a Lady

Watercolor on ivory, unsigned, depicting an auburn-haired young lady with brown eyes, attired in a white dress with lace collar, presented in a gilt copper pendant case, the verso aperture retaining hairwork. Case interior retaining a 19th century "spade" playing card on laid paper, surrounded by remnants of a trade card printed "SIMO... / to DINKELSPIEL & OPPENHEIM...Importers of / tch....Too/...8 MAIDEN LANE, / NEAR BROADWAY / NEW YORK".

Pendant 3 1/2 x 2 3/8 in.; Miniature 2 1/2 x 2 in.

Private Collection, Raleigh, North Carolina

Although the sitter's identity is not known, the family owning the portrait is related to North Carolina's Governor Samuel Ashe (1725-1813). The Ashe family is related through marriage to South Carolina Governor Joseph Alston (1779-1816) who married Theodosia Burr Alston (1783-1813), the daughter of important American politician Aaron Burr (1756-1836). Interestingly this portrait does share a likeness to Theodosia.

The trade card of the interior case lists the street "Maiden Lane" which was an early trade center for jewelers in New York City beginning in the 1790s. However, the trade names on the calling card point to a jeweler/ watch importer E. & H. Simons or Elias Simons, listed as active around the 1850s. "Dinkelspiel & Oppenheimer" are also printed on the card, and this firm is listed as active shortly thereafter in 1861-1865.

Literature: Maiden Lane: The Story of a Single Street, by Albert Ullman, Published by The Maiden Lane Historical Society, New York, 1931.

Pendant case verso would likely have had foiled glass surrounding the aperture (not present); some areas of surface rubbing to the painted background and along the chin line of the sitter.
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