John Smart (British, 1742-1811) Mrs. Sarah Tyssen (1756-1790) née Boddicott, wearing lavender dress, slashed at the sleeve to reveal white, white lace slip visible to her décolleté trimmed with fine green ribbon, a green ribbon bow to her corsage, her hair elaborately upswept and dressed with strands of pearls and a sheer white veil

Portrait Miniatures

Bonhams is world renowned for its strength in the area of portrait miniatures through its two specialist sales held each year at our Knightsbridge galleries. Bonhams is the only auction house to hold sales uniquely focussed on portrait miniatures and has an outstanding track record of selling highly important single owner collections. The Albion Collection sold by us in April 2004, remains to this day, the highest grossing auction of portrait miniatures from a single owner collection, achieving a total of just over £1.5million.

The department handles British, European and American portrait miniatures on vellum and ivory as well as plumbagos, enamels, silhouettes and small oils on metal from the 16th to the early 20th century.

Works by masters of the genre, such as Hilliard, Oliver, Cooper, Petitot, Engleheart, Dumont, Smart, Cosway, Isabey and Bone are routinely offered in our Fine Portrait Miniatures sales. Decorative miniatures can also be found in auctions held at our Oxford salerooms.