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MAGNIFICENT FRAMED OVAL OIL MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
MAGNIFICENT FRAMED OVAL OIL MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF
MAGNIFICENT FRAMED OVAL OIL MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF A CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY LIEUTENANT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Oval portrait descended directly from the family of 2nd Lt. John Benjamin Witherspoon Phillips, Company B, Manigault's Battalion, SC Artillery, (Smith's Company). Portrait measures 5-1/2 x 4", is convex in form, and depicts an attractive young Confederate officer. His hair is swept to the left having long sideburns and a combed turned up mustache. He is wearing the gray frock coat of a Confederate 2nd Lt. of artillery with dbl-breasted frock coat with 14-button front, the edges piped in crimson, and sleeves decorated with the braid of his rank. On each side of the collar is a sgl gold bar indicating his rank, 2nd Lt. He is wearing the crimson sash of an officer with a sword belt and stylized oval belt plate. Hanging from his left waist is a gold watch fob and key. Painting is mounted in a multi layered mat, the primary being an oval gilt/gesso and wood frame approx. 1/4" deep overlaid by cream colored mat with a black edge decoration overlaid by a gray colored mat cut in trapezoidal form having a painted blue inner edge. Mats and painting are in a deep fancy wood and gesso frame faux painted to appear as ivory with two black lines. CONDITION: Painting is in excellent condition with bright colors and no defects. I am uncertain as to the substrate upon which this portrait was executed. Its smooth surface convex indicates that it may be painted on ivory or porcelain. CONDITION: Painting is in superb condition. Mats are very good with slight areas of dust and dirt. Frame is good with edged chipping here and there. Some of the gilt is fading. Back of the frame has been recovered in new paper. Accompanying the photograph are a number of documents and post war photographs. There is a post war carte de visite of Lieutenant Phillips standing next to his seated wife in civilian clothes. Photo is mounted on a pink card signed "S.T. Souder, Photo". Back mark is fancy Victorian printing in gold with an armorial crest "Souder/Charleston,/S.C./263 King St. opposite Hastel St". In addition, there is a cabinet card of his wife named Virginia Willis Phillips circa 1890 in a black dress with a pair of spectacles pinned to the left shoulder and having a large oval broche at her neck with a portrait of her husband within. Finally there is a photograph of Juilian Phillips in a 3/4 length view in full fraternal regalia (Lt. Phillips' son). CONDITION: Carte-de-visit is excellent. Slight wear to the top edge. Cabinet card of Virginia Phillips has been severely trimmed, forming roughly an oval. Photograph of his son is bent at the upper right hand corner and has a minor loss to the left-hand corner. Three documents accompany the portrait, one being partially printed oath of allegiance for Virginia Phillips of the District of Charleston, State of SC. Subscribed and sworn on March 24, 1865 before 2nd Lt. William B. Eaton 127th Regiment NY Vol. Second document is partially printed Amnesty Proclamation and Oath of Allegiance for J.B.W. Phillips dated September 4, 1865 before Maj. Levi Stuber, Provost Marshal. Third document is an A.L.S. from Jay Ford Puolean, Surgeon in Charge, Academy Hospital, Chester, SC. The letter reads: "Office Academy Hospital, Chester S.H., S.C., June 3d, 1865. Lt.: J.B.W. Phillips, "Company D" Mani-Gault's Battalion, A paroled Officer of Johnson's Army is hereby dischar-ged from this Hospital, to report home in accordance with the terms of his pa-role". CONDITION: Documents are in very good condition with light foxing overall. Virginia Phillips' parole has minor losses at the top edges. Lt. Phillips enlisted in Manigault's Battalion on February 28, 1862 as a Pvt. He became acting Battalion Ordnance Sergeant in June of 1862 and achieved that rank on January 31, 1863. On June 6, 1863, he was elected 2nd Lt. of Co. B and was detached as the Ordnance Officer and Legare's Point, S.C. He commanded 40 men in action on the Ashepoo in May of 1864. He commanded the reserves at Rivers' Causeway and spent time on picket duty and in charge of his company at Battery Island and Sucessionville. He participated in the evacuation of Charleston on February 17, 1865 and in the Battle of Bentonville, NC in March of 1865. He was paroled at Charleston, SC on September 4, 1865. A magnificent portrait accompanied by important military correspondence and documents, recently acquired from the Phillips family. 4-55120 (10,000-20,000)"