Brass Rubbing of Five Daughters
Print (Brass Rubbing) on paper • Unknown amateur rubber (original brass engraver unknown)
Style & Movement
Elizabethan/Tudor Revival (Funerary Art)
Medium & Technique
Black heelball wax or graphite crayon rubbed onto paper over a monumental brass plaque
Creation Period
Late 20th Century (reproduction of a 16th-17th century original)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 10 inches; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A group of five sisters depicted in prayer, wearing period ruff collars and long gowns (kirtles). This is a subset of a typical large-scale monumental brass memorial found in English parish churches, where children were often grouped by gender below their parents.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible creasing and slight paper undulation
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50
Auction Estimate
$10 - $30
Provenance History
Likely acquired as a souvenir or hobbyist's project from an English church; privately held since mid-to-late 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the 1960s-1970s popularity of brass rubbing as a hobby in the UK, preserving the visual history of Tudor lineage and fashion through mechanical reproduction.
Notable Features
The use of vibrant red paper contrasts with the traditional white or black paper normally used, suggesting it was intended as a modern decorative interior piece.
Condition Issues
The paper shows wavy distortion (cockling) due to humidity or tight framing; minor surface scuffs on the black wax.
Conservation Recommendations
Remount with acid-free matting to prevent acidic transfer; keep out of direct sunlight to prevent the red paper from fading.