Portrait Miniatures

Portrait miniatures were popular from the 16th to the 19th centuries. They preserved the likeness of loved ones or public figures in an age before photography and were exchanged as romantic gifts or as symbols of political allegiance, particularly among the aristocracy. Small enough to be carried around, they could be worn in lockets, mounted in small frames or set into the lid of an ornate gold box.

A collector’s item
Appealing especially to the connoisseur, portrait miniatures have delighted British and European collectors for centuries. Olympia Auctions’ experts have handled many of the great and famous collections to have come to sale over the past 30 to 40 years and are familiar with today’s private and institutional collectors.

Value
With decades of experience of valuing portrait miniatures, our experts look for condition, rarity, provenance, the interest of the subject and artistic quality. Prices can range from a few hundred to many thousands of pounds. A famous sitter by a well-known artist is always going to command a high price but charming portraits by lesser-known artists also have their appeal.

Selling miniatures on ivory
Many miniatures were painted on ivory but if the miniature pre-dates 1918, it will be exempt from the rules now regulating the sale of ivory, provided it is registered with the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). If you do not already have a registration, our team will be delighted to do this for you.