Miniature beauty for £3,000 to £4,000

A charming collection of late 18th century miniatures by Margaret Bingham, Countess of Lucan is among the most interesting lots to be sold at the James Adam salesrooms next Wednesday, February 28th. Lady Lucan made a hobby of painting watercolour on ivory copies of historic portrait miniatures and also of her family and this collection of around 25 gilt framed miniatures includes portraits of Lavinia, Countess of Spencer - Margaret Bingham's daughter - Marie Antoinette and Catherine de Medici. Estimates vary from £250 to £1,000.

However, none of Lady Lucan's amateur paintings bears comparison with the superb single miniature by Henry Bone, the most prolific enamellist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His 1796 portrait of Miss De Visme, which measures just four inches by three inches, is full of gentle expression yet exquisitely detailed from the gleaming satin ribbon at the lady's waist to the ruffle of chiffon around her shoulders. It is expected to fetch £3,000 to £4,000. The sale will also have plenty of good quality furniture suitable for the drawingroom and boudoir including a curvaceous George III style mahogany serpentine front bookcase (£6,000-£10,000).