Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The freestanding cartouche-shaped tinned copper frame embossed overall with scrolling leafy vines surrounding a pair of open oval reserves flanked on either side by embossed motifs of lovebirds.
The back showing a hinged easel support which allows the frame to be freestanding, and two top loading compartments intended to receive a pair of framed portrait miniatures which can then be viewed through the twin oval open reserves on the front.
The rather naive albeit charming construction & decoration is consistent with items sold by street merchants in the various bazaars & marketplaces frequented by Western & European tourists travelling throughout India and The Middle East during the later part of the 19th century and early 20th century. There are surprisingly very few, if any similar examples of this frame currently available.
This would most certainly be a unique addition to any collector of portrait miniatures, particularly those made by India Company School...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Tin Picture Frames