Antique French Portrait Miniature, Early 19th Century, a Beautiful 18th Century Woman with Mandolin Crumb Brush I'm not a cigar smoker

I'm not a cigar smoker

carnet du bal with 2 glorious panels of carved mother of pearl set into gilt ormolu framework that is trimmed with cabochons of Persian turquoise (some missing)

with those eyes so bold and touch of a smile which shows off a dimple

The silver mounts could use a bit more polishing than I did

Note the unique oval form/polished presentation inside lid

Antique French Portrait Miniature, Early 19th Century, a Beautiful 18th Century Woman with Mandolin Crumb Brush I'm not a cigar smokerWhat a beauty she is! It's fascinating, isn't it, that so much personality and detail can be painted in 5 8", which is the height of her beautiful face. This woman, fashioned in hair and gown of c. 1770s, but I think painted later perhaps as a souvenir taken from an earlier painting, shows her playing a mandolin. Always fun to have portraits with musical instruments, sewing or writing tools or personal objects to help define the sitter. The painting