'Louis XIV', ivory portrait

'Louis XIV', ivory portrait, signed by Michel Mollart, probably before 1683. Museum no. A.44-1935

'Louis XIV'
Ivory portrait
Signed by Michel Mollart (1641-1713)
France (Paris)
Probably before 1683
Ivory
Museum no. A.44-1935

The grandeur and flamboyance of Louis XIV, the Sun King, can be seen even on this small scale.

'Lady Isabella Bennett, Duchess of Grafton'

'Lady Isabella Bennett, Duchess of Grafton', ivory, Jean Cavalier, 1684. Museum no. A.97-1980

'Lady Isabella Bennett, Duchess of Grafton'
Jean Cavalier (died 1698)
England
Dated 1684
Ivory
Museum no. A.97-1980

Jean Cavalier was a native of France, and perhaps a Protestant. In the 1680s he worked mainly in England, but he later accompanied the Swedish ambassador to Russia and Iran.

'Nicholas Witzen, Burgomaster of Amsterdam' ivory

'Nicholas Witzen, Burgomaster of Amsterdam' ivory, perhaps by François van Bossuit, about 1680-90. Museum no. A.83-1936

'Nicholas Witzen, Burgomaster of Amsterdam'
Perhaps by François van Bossuit (1635-92)
The Netherlands (Amsterdam)
About 1680-90
Ivory
Museum no. A.83-1936

Witzen held high civic offices from 1682 to 1705 and was later Ambassador Extraordinary to Great Britain.

An Unknown Man, ivory portrait

An Unknown Man, ivory portrait, about 1680-1700. Museum no. A.20-1938

An Unknown Man
Ivory portrait
France (probably Paris)
About 1680-1700
Ivory in a piqué case
Museum no. A.20-1938
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA

Ivories were often displayed in glass cases. Sometimes they would have been treated as portable medallions with their own individual cases, as seen here. Piqué is a technique which used small rods of gold or silver to give a surface a spangled appearance. 

'An Unknown Man', ivory

'An Unknown Man', ivory, Joachim Henne, about 1670. Museum no. A.1-1982

'An Unknown Man'
Ivory
Joachim Henne (active about 1663-1707)
Germany
About 1670
Ivory
Museum no. A.1-1982

Henne was active in northern Germany and made many portraits.

'David Melville, 3rd Earl of Leven'

'David Melville, 3rd Earl of Leven', ivory portrait, signed by David Le Marchand, about 1700. Museum no. A.123-1956

'David Melville, 3rd Earl of Leven'
Ivory portrait
Signed by David Le Marchand (1674-1726)
Scotland (Edinburgh)
About 1700
Ivory
Museum no. A.123-1956
Bequeathed by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA

Le Marchand was a French ivory carver who opened a shop in Edinburgh in 1696, but later moved to London. Lord Leven (1660-1728) was a military commander serving on the Continent and in Scotland.

'Thomas Guy', ivory portrait

'Thomas Guy', ivory portrait, signed by David Le Marchand, about 1700-26. Museum no. A.1-1936

'Thomas Guy'
Ivory portrait
Signed by David Le Marchand (1674-1726)
England (London)
About 1700-26
Ivory
Museum no. A.1-1936
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA

Thomas Guy (1644-1724) was a renowned philanthropist and the founder of Guy's Hospital in London. 

'Charles Marbury', ivory portrait

'Charles Marbury', ivory portrait, signed by David Le Marchand, about 1700-25. Museum no. A.43-1931

'Charles Marbury'
Ivory portrait
Signed by David Le Marchand (1674-1726)
England (London)
About 1700-25
Ivory
Museum no. A.43-1931

An Unknown Man, ivory portrait

An Unknown Man, ivory portrait, Carl August Lücke the Younger, about 1750. Museum no. A.10-1966

An Unknown Man
Ivory portrait
Carl August Lücke the Younger (1710-after 1777)
Germany
About 1750
Ivory
Museum no. A.10-1966
Purchased under the Hildburgh Fund

Lücke was one of a family of sculptors and specialised in ivory portraiture.

'Elizabeth I', ivory portrait

'Elizabeth I', ivory portrait, signed by Gaspar van der Hagen, about 1750. Lent by Mr John Lewis

Elizabeth I
Ivory portrait
Signed by Gaspar van der Hagen (active 1747-died 1769)
England (London)
About 1750
Ivory
Lent by Mr John Lewis

The artist was born in the Netherlands but worked in London, in the workshop of Michael Rysbrack. This portrait of Queen Elizabeth was one of a series of British 'worthies', some of them based on full-sized busts by Rysbrack himself.

'Oliver Cromwell', ivory portrait

'Oliver Cromwell', ivory portrait, signed by Gaspar van der Hagen, about 1750. Lent by Mr John Lewis

Oliver Cromwell
Ivory portrait
Signed by Gaspar van der Hagen (active 1747-died 1769)
England (London)
About 1750
Ivory
Lent by Mr John Lewis

The artist was born in the Netherlands but worked in London, in the workshop of Michael Rysbrack. This portrait of Cromwell was one of a series of British 'worthies', some of them based on full-sized busts by Rysbrack himself.
 

'Sir Isaac Newton', ivory portrait

'Sir Isaac Newton', ivory portrait, probably by Gaspar van der Hagen, about 1750. Museum no. A.22-1938

'Sir Isaac Newton'
Ivory portrait
Probably by Gaspar van der Hagen (active 1747-died 1769)
England (London)
About 1750
Ivory
Museum no. A.22-1938
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA

The artist was born in the Netherlands but worked in London, in the workshop of Michael Rysbrack. This portrait of Newton was one of a series of British 'worthies', some of them based on full-sized busts by Rysbrack himself.

'Princess Charlotte Augusta', ivory portrait

'Princess Charlotte Augusta', ivory portrait, signed by John Kelly, dated 1817. Museum no. A.21-1938

'Princess Charlotte Augusta'
Ivory portrait
Signed by John Kelly
England (London)
Dated 1817
Ivory
Museum no. A.21-1938
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA

Princess Charlotte (1796-1817) was the daughter of George IV. She died in childbirth.