Silhouette of an Unidentified Woman

Date1880-1910

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Doylestown (possibly)

MediumCut wove paper with black fabric secondary supports and some graphite guidelines.

DimensionsPrimary Support: 4 1/8 x 3in. (10.5 x 7.6cm) and Framed: 5 5/8 x 4 5/16in.

Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford

Object number2007.306.2

DescriptionA hollow-cut, bust-length profile of a woman facing left. Below the image is a rectangular area that is, like the image itself, hollow cut to form letters and small decorative elements.

Artist unidentified.
Label TextThis is an example of one of at least two, distinctive, unusually elaborate silhouette types believed to have originated in eastern Pennsylvania. The type shown here is exemplified by 2-3 letters set within a rectangular reserve beneath the image. (At least some of these letters are thought to be the initials of the subject's name, particularly in cases where only two letters are shown; why this example and its companion, 2007.306.2, each bear three letters is uncertain). Some examples of this type also incorporate floral sprays flanking the image and a crown-like device centered above the image. Because a heart is usually enclosed within each rectangular reserve, these types are sometimes called valentines.
The second general type, which encloses the image in an arch-topped frame of stylized vines is not thought to be directly related to the first, although some of these also incorporate letters.
This silhoutte, its companion, and one of a child (1986.306.1) are not only stylistically related but all, also, came from the Barber family of the Doylestown area of Pennyslvania, perhaps accounting for the "B" among the letters.
ProvenanceRumford (AARFAM's donor) acquired this silhouette (as well as 2007.306.1 and 1986.306.1) from Roy Kister, Doylestown, Pa., in May 1970. Rumford reported that Roy Kister's wife, Marie, was a friend of the Barber family of Bucks Co., Pa., and the three silhouettes were believed to represent members of the Barber family.