Group of Praying Figures (Monumental Brass Rubbing)
Print / Brass Rubbing on paper • Unidentified amateur or hobbyist; after a 16th-century English funerary brass.
Style & Movement
Tudor / Elizabethan aesthetic (original design); 20th-century decorative craft (execution).
Medium & Technique
Heelball (specialized wax crayon) rubbing on paper; a relief printing technique where paper is placed over an engraved brass plate and rubbed to transfer the design.
Creation Period
Modern (mid-20th century, circa 1950-1980)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 10 inches; portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A group of six figures, likely daughters or female family members, dressed in Elizabethan costume with ruff collars and gowns, shown in a pious profile or three-quarter view with hands held in prayer. This is typical of 'weeper' figures found on family tomb brasses.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair; some visible creasing and vertical undulation of the paper support within the frame.
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50
Auction Estimate
$10 - $30
Provenance History
Likely a souvenir or hobbyist creation from a visit to an English parish church; typical of the mid-century brass rubbing craze in the UK.
Art Historical Significance
Minor; it serves as a modern document of historical tomb engraving and reflects the popular mid-20th-century interest in medieval and Renaissance commemorative art.
Notable Features
The use of tinted orange-red paper instead of the traditional white or black paper adds a specific mid-century decorative flair.
Condition Issues
Paper rippling (cockling) due to improper mounting or humidity; potential light fading of the red/orange paper; minor surface scuffs.
Conservation Recommendations
Remount using acid-free materials to prevent further cockling; keep away from direct sunlight to prevent paper discoloration.