Rare intaglio of a lady by BURCH c1800

This is an unmounted intaglio.

It is made of glass and was designed to be used with hot wax for sealing letters.

I have made an impression of this intgalio using hot wax to show that the intaglio works as intended and also to give a clearer image of the intaglio.

The wax impression comes in a small plastic case and is included with the purchase of this piece

This is an unmounted intaglio.

It is a small and thick oval purple glass piece which has a highly detailed image of a lady with headscarf

The quality of the intaglio is superb and you can really see the detailing when you look at the intaglio from the back of the glass. The intaglio is signed “Burch” – see below

The intaglio measures 22mm x 18mm x 12mm and is in 85% mint condition – many small chips and marks.

Edward Burch RA was one of the most celebrated gem-engravers of the eighteenth century, engraving intaglios and medals of mainly antique subjects and portraits of contemporary worthies. In 1788 he was appointed engraver to the King and Duke of York. His pupil was the engraver Nathaniel Marchant (1739-1816).