Randi Ona
     Early American Antiques  

Hollow-cut, cut and pasted, and watercolor silhouette attributed to James H. Whitcomb (1806-1849).  Featuring Whitcomb’s distinctive S-curved lower edge, this silhouette is dated “Jun 7th 1837”. The sitter is identified as “Negiah Bliss”, “Age 11”.  The head and body are hollow-cut, the jacket is cut and pasted, the lapels are highlighted with a lovely peachy watercolor.  A halo of hair appears to be lightly inked.  This silhouette is in excellent condition; period frame; old collector’s tag on the back.

Dimensions:  sight 3.5” x 4.5”; frame 5 1/8” x 6”.

 

James H. Whitcomb was born in Hancock, NH. He was deaf from around the age of three as a result of contracting scarlet fever.  From 1822-1827, Whitcomb attended the American Asylum for the Deaf where he learned shoemaking. Although he made his living as a shoemaker, he did silhouettes on the side, often traveling as an itinerant artist. Examples of his works are exhibited in the New Hampshire Historical Society and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.