Button Portrait Young Girl French, Under Glass Paste Border, 18th Century. This beautiful portrait button was made in France C.1785-1800, has an outstanding openwork setting made of gilt brass, and is bordered with foil-backed paste stones. The lovely portrait of a youthful lady is believed to be Elisabeth of France (1602-1644), daughter of King Henry IV and his 2nd wife Maria de Medici. She later became Isabella of Bourbon, Queen Consort to King Philip IV of Spain.

Please note another similar button in my shop with a portrait of Maria de Medici and having the same openwork setting. Both appear to be from the same “set” of buttons which perhaps included other family members. Later portraits of Isabella, nee Elisabeth show her with lots of curls and a widows-peak hairline.

This delightful young lady has somewhat unruly curls that escaped down on her forehead from her widows-peak hairline. A very light outlining of transfer lines creates a “map” for the hand painted details. Her hair covering appears to consist of dark netting and pink feathers, and she has a ribbon around her neck with side bow that caresses the side of her cheek. She has a very sweet, youthful face with nicely painted features. The portrait is beneath a thick piece of beveled glass within a multi-prong setting. The setting is bordered with 18 blue-foiled paste stones, each also secured with numerous prongs. The pale blue foil appears to have darkened somewhat but the stones do have lots of sparkle.

SIZE: Large 1 & 5/16”

MARKS: None apparent.

CONDITION: Very Good. Foil has darkened slightly and a few stones are a bit lighter but appear original. All still sparkle nicely.