Philadelphia Antiques Show 2016_

✷ 139 ✷ FROM THE COLLECTION OF… FROM THE COLLECTION OF… ELLE SHUSHAN ELLE SHUSHAN FINE PORTRAIT MINIATURES, PHILADELPHIA, PA Appointed Royal Miniaturist by the 18-year-old Queen Victoria in 1837, Sir William Charles Ross held the post for the rest of his life. Despite the lofty title, the Queen sat to Ross only a handful of times. e rest of his portraits of Victoria—there were hundreds—were based on the few life sittings. is is one of his earliest and most iconic images of the young queen, wearing a bracelet set with a miniature of her ancé, Prince Albert, painted in 1839, the year before their wedding. is portrait was issued as a print, reproduced on pottery and copied by scores of lesser miniaturists. As a collector, I keep for myself only what can not be sold. is portrait of Victoria, painted on ivory, is cracked many times; the condition de es conservation. Regardless, the importance of the portrait warranted illustration in Victorian Miniatures in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen (Royal Collection Publications, 2010). TIMOTHY H. MARTIN S. J. SHRUBSOLE, NEWYORK, NY Although this is not a particularly rare object—a plain George II co ee pot—it is distinguished by nearly perfect proportions, ne marks, and pretty engraving. Not enough, perhaps, to warrant inclusion in an exhibition. But, I have a sentimental attachment to this pot because it was my stepfather’s. It sat in a cabinet in his apartment for years. I would look at it from time to time, and the more I looked at it the more I came to realize that it was rare in being just that little bit better than almost all the other George II baluster co ee pots out there. Without being quite perfect and ideal itself, it was close, and it helped me to understand what an ideal co ee pot of this time would look like. Call it a sentimental education.