Featured Louis XIV plaster portrait

This is a small, 5x6" or so, plaster relief portrait on velvet. I don't know if it came out of a frame, case, or from a furniture inset or gift box.

As purchased it had some significant wear and white exposed areas. The owner didn't know what it was made of and theorized it was carved bone. It was an estate sale item that was priced $45 and discounted by one partner to $30 and then they disagreed and he wanted full price.

I almost passed it up, and maybe I should have: A price sticker was stuck directly to it, and when I removed it the inked price had transferred to the plaster in a permanent tattoo! I tried to wash it off with alcohol but it took the stain with it leaving white plaster behind. At this point it was just about chalked up to a loss but I hit it with some Rub 'n' buff and it picked out the details pretty nicely and hid the worst of the damage.

I don't have a "before" picture, sorry it made me a little ill. I don't like seeing old stuff messed up. I wouldn't have tried to "restore" it had it not been potentially ruined by the price tag.

 

Can we see the back? Based on what I can see, it may be a Victorian item or a 70s piece when velvet backgrounds were back in style.

 

Verybrad I'll be sure to get a shot of the back when I'm back around on Wednesday.

Regards,

Matt

 

Doesn't look like Louis XIV to me. Maybe Louis XIII?

 

The plush of the velvet has fallen off the material behind, I wonder if it isn't a lot older? It's a bit like the backing to my bronze roundel in the oval carving I posted a few days back and I know that's at least 100 years old.

 

I think you're right about that. Probably XIII. Too handsome for XIV!

 

Yes I was thinking 1870 vs 1970. I'll get a shot of the back. I don't recall any staples or Mod Podge. There was something pinning the crown

 

Here's the back. The brad secures the crown detail, and there's some kind of black leather or leatherette covering the exposed edges of the velvet fabric, so I suppose it was not mounted separately in a larger frame

 

Would think Victorian. Late 19th century.