19th Century English Tinsel Print Portrait of Actor Retailed Saxon and Clemens

A mid 19th century English full length portrait tinsel print hand colored and hand embellished, framed and retailed by Saxon and Clemens of New York City (original paper backing has been lost to time, however this print is similar to two others both from Saxon and Clemens) circa mid 20th century. This print depicts, "Mr. Collins as Sir Reginold the Bold in the Giant of Palestine". This is one of three tinsel prints that I have available on my HKFA storefront here on 1stdibs. From the Robertson Davies Collection website, I would like to share with you this fascinating history of tinsel prints, "As the popularity of these prints became wide spread, bags of prepared tinsel decorations were sold along with the prints making them customizable by the purchaser. Thus after the tinseling process, no two prints would be identical. Tinsel prints emerged from the tradition of toy theatres. Once an appropriate model theatre was purchased, the public could buy prints depicting actors, actresses and scenery from plays that were being performed at the time and recreate those plays in their home. As the "juvenile drama" became popular, play books were published along side prints so the words of the plays could be recreated as well. While the genre flourished the desire to purchase a larger print of a specific actor or actress remained. Thus two types of theatrical prints became to be printed: those for juvenile dramas that were small and excluded specific actors names, and actors portraits that were larger and more individualized. In the larger theatrical portraits, characters were "always displayed full length" and "striking [a] habitual and dramatic pose". The 1830's marked the emergence of tinseling prints as a past time. Before this time, if an individual wished to embellish a portrait, individual sheets of metal foil would have to be purchased, measured and cut to fit an individual print. Once tinseling became common, different packages of precut tinsel (specific to the print)would be sold with each print as aforementioned. The term tinsel specifically refers to the metal sheets used to represent armor and weapons, but more broadly includes pieces of satin, silk, velvet, leather, and feathers among other embellishments. Although tinsel prints are now viewed as works of art, in the nineteenth century they were no more than a child's pastime. Most sources cite tinseling, as well as toy theatre, as being most popular among boys from the working class. Their popularity among boys could explain why male portraits were produced more frequently than female, however, it is more likely that male costumes, with their multiple pieces of armor and arms...

A mid 19th century English full length portrait tinsel print hand colored and hand embellished, framed and retailed by Saxon and Clemens of New York City circa mid 20th century. This print depicts, "Mr. Freer as Alonzo the Patriot". This is one of three tinsel prints that I have available on my HKFA storefront here on 1stdibs. From the Robertson Davies Collection website, I would like to share with you this fascinating history of tinsel prints, "As the popularity of these prints became wide spread, bags of prepared tinsel decorations were sold along with the prints making them customizable by the purchaser. Thus after the tinseling process, no two prints would be identical. Tinsel prints emerged from the tradition of toy theatres. Once an appropriate model theatre was purchased, the public could buy prints depicting actors, actresses and scenery from plays that were being performed at the time and recreate those plays in their home. As the "juvenile drama" became popular, play books were published along side prints so the words of the plays could be recreated as well. While the genre flourished the desire to purchase a larger print of a specific actor or actress remained. Thus two types of theatrical prints became to be printed: those for juvenile dramas that were small and excluded specific actors names, and actors portraits that were larger and more individualized. In the larger theatrical portraits, characters were "always displayed full length" and "striking [a] habitual and dramatic pose". The 1830's marked the emergence of tinseling prints as a past time. Before this time, if an individual wished to embellish a portrait, individual sheets of metal foil would have to be purchased, measured and cut to fit an individual print. Once tinseling became common, different packages of precut tinsel (specific to the print)would be sold with each print as aforementioned. The term tinsel specifically refers to the metal sheets used to represent armor and weapons, but more broadly includes pieces of satin, silk, velvet, leather, and feathers among other embellishments. Although tinsel prints are now viewed as works of art, in the nineteenth century they were no more than a child's pastime. Most sources cite tinseling, as well as toy theatre, as being most popular among boys from the working class. Their popularity among boys could explain why male portraits were produced more frequently than female, however, it is more likely that male costumes, with their multiple pieces of armor and arms...

This is where the antique mixes with the modern. Where worlds collide and give rise to something fresh, new and unique. A mid 19th century British print by Henry Strafford presented ...

This is where the antique mixes with the modern. Where worlds collide and give rise to something fresh, new and unique. A mid 19th Century British print presented in a Kulicke frame which had it's origins in the mid 20th Century in America. This print of Improved Lincolnshire Sheep printed...

A late 19th or early 20th Century monumental color print by French artist Henri Riviere (1864 - 1951). The print shows a man and his horse in the French countryside, haystacks visibl...

A late 19th or early 20th Century monumental color print by French artist Henri Riviere (1864 - 1951). The print shows a figure under an umbrella walking in a landscape with building...

Japanese 19th Century Woodblock Print of Kabuki Actors Toyokuni III Original Woodcut by Toyokuni III (1786 - 1864) Of the Kabuki actors Bando Hikosab...

We present you this black and white lithograph depicting Caroline Vilhelmine Fjelsted (1821-1881), a Danish theatrical dancer. The author is Elias John Cardon. The graphic was ...

Framed print of English Harbor views, early 19th century, "View of Greenwich in Kent and View of Deptford in Kent." Custom frame and mat.

Pair of 19th century prints.

Pair of 19th century neoclassic steel engraving prints. Professionally matted and framed.

A lovely pair of 19th century ornithological color prints of European birds, within an elegant wood frame. The science of ornithology has a long history and studies on birds have hel...