18th-century Staffordshire Bilston portrait enamel scent bottle

An 18th-century South Staffordshire, probably Bilston, enamel scent bottle, c.1780-90, painted with a portrait of Anne Franks Day, later Lady Fenoulhet, after Sir Joshua Reynolds, from a print by R Purcell. The reverse is painted with a panel of flowers, within raised gilt borders reserved on a textured white enamel ground, with silvered metal mounts, 10.3cm (4.1in) high.

Condition: Presents very well. Scattered retouching/restoration visible under ultraviolet light. There is light rubbing to the right of her neck. The stopper appears original and fits well. The base is uneven and the bottle does not stand unaided.

Notes: Anne Franks Day was mistress of Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Baron Edgcumbe. Following his death, she married Sir Peter Fenoulhet, becoming Lady Fenoulhet. Following a scandalous separation, she emigrated to France but had returned to England by the time of her death in 1790.

References: For an étui with the same portrait, see Therle & Bernard Hughes, English Painted Enamels pg.70, Pl.34. Hamlyn, 1967.

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