Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A 19th century miniature wax portrait bust of a lady, in the manner of Samuel Percy, the model full face and crafted in high relief, her auburn hair braided and wearing a cream and silvered laced bodice with green gilt heightened overgown, and jewelled necklace, in oval ebonised glazed frame, the reverse with paper handwritten label reading ‘Coloured wax by Lady Lucas 27 Bruton Street L.’, overall length 17cm. £100-£120

Samuel Percy (1750-1820) was an Irish wax-modeller and sculptor, active in England from 1772 and recorded as moving to London in 1777 where he established a thriving practice as a portraitist in wax. Wax portraits became highly fashionable in the 18th century.