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Silhouette, c.1780.
Prior to photography in the mid 19th century, people either sat for a portrait miniature or had a silhouette cut of their profile. Silhouettes were usually inexpensive, small in size and intended as keepsakes of family members or loved-ones. Silhouettes were often carried in a pocket similar to the way we keep photographs in a wallet.
This silhouette is unusual as most were cut from black paper and pasted onto a white or lighter background paper. This small treasure made its way to Missisquoi County with the Jeremiah Spencer family in the 1790s. The sitter for the silhouette is unknown. (Missisquoi Historical Society Collections)
Prior to photography in the mid 19th century, people either sat for a portrait miniature or had a silhouette cut of their profile. Silhouettes were usually inexpensive, small in size and intended as keepsakes of family members or loved-ones. Silhouettes were often carried in a pocket similar to the way we keep photographs in a wallet.
This silhouette is unusual as most were cut from black paper and pasted onto a white or lighter background paper. This small treasure made its way to Missisquoi County with the Jeremiah Spencer family in the 1790s. The sitter for the silhouette is unknown. (Missisquoi Historical Society Collections)