Antique Prussian or Russian Portrait Miniature of a Young Boy, Child, in Frame antique French sterling silver The outer 3" or more

The outer 3" or more border is worked separately and sewn to the picture center (view image of backside)

whom he surely knew personally

The French Minerve or Minerva hallmark on all handles

I have not quite figured out how it attaches

Antique Prussian or Russian Portrait Miniature of a Young Boy, Child, in Frame antique French sterling silver The outer 3" or moreA while ago I bought a collection of c. 1700s to earliest 1800s portrait miniatures from a Russian estate, and this was one of those. This little boy had a little sister, painted by the same artist and in the same type of incised frame, and she was sold right away. Her brother, here offered, is as delightful, but is not in pristine condition. As you can see, the thin wafer upon which the artist has worked shows very fine hairlines. You don't