Antique Hand-Painted Porcelain Portrait Plaque | Duchess of Devonshire After Gainsborough | Rococo Gilt Frame | With Provenance | 19th Century

Antique 19th Century Hand-Painted Porcelain Portrait Plaque

Lady Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire — After Thomas Gainsborough (1787) — With Provenance Label

A striking and well-documented antique hand-painted oval porcelain portrait plaque depicting Lady Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, after the celebrated portrait by Thomas Gainsborough (1787). The subject is captured with well-defined powdered curls beneath a bold dark grey wide-brimmed hat with white and orange-red feather plumes, a crisp white fur stole at her shoulders, and a delicate rose at the breast. The painting displays confident, vivid brushwork with excellent detail and strong colour retention.

The Frame

Housed in a deeply carved rococo gilt frame featuring bold acanthus scrolls, floral and shell motifs at the corners, and a delicate beaded oval inner border. The gilding shows natural variation and warm shadowing in the recesses, consistent with original period gilding in very presentable condition.

Provenance

The reverse bears a collector's identification label reading:

"DEVONSHIRE — Lady Georgiana Spencer, married 5th Duke of Devonshire, 1774. By T. Gainsborough."

This label confirms the long-held identification of the subject and the Gainsborough source portrait. The reverse also retains its original black painted backing board and aged string hanger, typical of 19th-century Continental European framing construction.

About the Subject

Lady Georgiana Spencer (1757–1806), Duchess of Devonshire, was one of the most celebrated women of Georgian England — aristocrat, socialite, political activist, and style icon. Her portrait by Gainsborough became one of the most famous and widely reproduced images of the era; porcelain versions such as this were highly prized decorative objects throughout the Victorian period.

Details at a Glance

• Subject: Lady Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire — confirmed by verso label
• Medium: Hand-painted porcelain plaque
• After: Thomas Gainsborough, 1787
• Frame: Rococo carved gilt, original warm patina
• Period: Mid-to-late 19th century
• Origin: Continental European
• Condition: Good throughout — portrait vivid and well-preserved; frame shows honest age-related wear
• Provenance: Collector's identification label to reverse

Condition & Shipping

As with all antiques, this piece may show signs of age-related wear. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the description.

UK: Royal Mail Tracked 48, carefully bubble-wrapped and double-boxed. Overseas buyers: please contact us for a courier quote before purchasing. Import duties, taxes, or fees may apply depending on your country.