18th Century Framed Set Of Three Plumbago Portrait Miniatures

£6,500 per item
Service fee applied at checkout
Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom
Hassle-free returns
  • Easy returns (14 days)
  • Free return if the item isn't as described
  • Buyer protection

    Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.

Dimensions
W 26.67 cm
x
H 12.07 cm
x
D 6.35 cm
Wear Condition
Wear conditions

Good

Material

Leather, Glass, Other Wood

Style

Antique

Product Details

Description

18th Century Framed Set of Three Plumbago Portrait Miniatures - Style of Nathaniel Hone (1718 -1784) , Half Monochrome portraits of three members of the Hughes family, possibly sisters. The miniatures in the round aligned together. Each portrait is oval and 5cm in height painted on Vellum (animal skin), brought together in a quality "Miers, of The Strand, London" picture frame, inscribed on the reverse with references to the Hughes family name.

Nathaniel Hone was an Irish-born portrait and miniature painter, and one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768

The son of a Dublin-based Dutch merchant, Hone moved to England as a young man and, after marrying Molly Earle - daughter of the Duke of Argyll - in 1742, eventually settled in London, by which time he had acquired a reputation as a portrait-painter. While his paintings were popular, his reputation was particularly enhanced by his skill at producing miniatures and enamels. He interrupted his time in London by spending two years (1750–1752) studying in Italy.

As a portrait painter, several of his works are now held at the National Portrait Gallery in London. His sitters included magistrate Sir John Fielding and Methodist preacher John Wesley, and General Richard Wilford and Sir Levett Hanson in a double portrait.He often used his son John Camillus Hone (1745–1836) in some of his works, including his unique portrait of "The Spartan Boy", painted in 1774.

The Conjuror
He courted controversy in 1775 when his satirical picture The Conjurer (National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin) was seen to attack the fashion for Italian Renaissance art and to ridicule Sir Joshua Reynolds, leading the Royal Academy to reject the painting. It also originally included a nude caricature of fellow Academician Angelica Kauffman in the top left corner, which was painted out by Hone after Kauffman complained to the academy. The combination of a little girl and an old man has also been seen as symbolic of Kauffman and Reynolds's closeness, age difference, and rumoured affair.[4] To show that his reputation was undamaged, Hone organised a one-man retrospective in London, the first such solo exhibition of an artist's work.

The Hone family is related to the old Dutch landed family the van Vianens, who hold the hereditary title of Vrijheer. His great-grandnephew shared the same name and was also a notable Irish painter, known as Nathaniel Hone the Younger (1831–1917). He is also a relation to painter Evie Hone. Hone had two sons, both of whom became artists, John Camillus and Horace

Condition report:

Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.

Material
Glass, Leather, Other Wood
Manufactured
1700s
Style
Origin
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Item location
Basildon, Essex , United Kingdom
Period
18th Century and Earlier
Condition
Used
Professional Seller
Vinterior since 2024

Shopping at Vinterior

Enjoy secure, sustainable shopping with buyer protection, a 14-day return guarantee, flat-fee returns for UK furniture, outstanding service, and verified authenticity.
Payment via bank transfer available for Trade buyers
Visa Mastercard American Express Apple Pay Google Pay

Add to a wishlist

You can add this item to an existing wishlist or create a new one

Create Wishlist

Give your wishlist a memorable name such as "remarkable sideboards"

Wear conditions

Excellent

Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.

Good

May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.

Average

Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.

Apparent Wear and Tear

Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.

Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.

Cancellations and Returns

Last updated: 12/02/2026

Clear, predictable protection for every pre-loved purchase.

Simple £75 flat return fee for UK-to-UK mainland furniture when you change your mind.

Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to mainland UK addresses. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.

Buying vintage should feel inspiring, not uncertain.

Every order on Vinterior is backed by straightforward returns, free cancellations, and extra peace of mind for UK furniture purchases.

1. Free cancellations

Changed your mind before dispatch?

You can cancel any order before it's shipped for a full refund, including delivery.

To cancel an order, click Create cancellation on the order page.

Once an item has been dispatched, delivery costs are not refundable.

Bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces cannot be cancelled.

2. Returning an item

You have 14 days from delivery to request a return.

There are two return types:

A. The item isn't as described (free return)

If your piece arrives and it doesn't match the listing in any material way (incorrect description, undisclosed damage, inaccurate measurements, misleading photos), you are fully protected:

  • Free return
  • The seller or Vinterior arranges pickup
  • Full refund, including outbound delivery costs once the seller receives the item

This applies to all purchases.

B. You changed your mind

UK-to-UK furniture deliveries:

To make UK furniture returns predictable and stress-free, we offer a simple flat return fee of £75.

  • Applies to furniture delivered from a UK mainland seller to a mainland UK address. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
  • Pickup arranged for you
  • One clear fee, no surprises

We coordinate the return with either the seller's chosen courier or our trusted delivery partner.

All other items

Most smaller items are straightforward to return.

You can still return your item within 14 days.

  • For smaller or parcel-sized items, you can choose to post the item back yourself using a tracked service, or the seller can suggest a preferred courier.
  • For larger or more fragile pieces, the seller may recommend the safest return method.
  • Return delivery costs vary depending on size and courier.

The seller will confirm the best option based on the item.

3. If your item arrives damaged

Damage on arrival is uncommon, especially for UK furniture deliveries.

But if something does go wrong, you're fully protected.

  • Let us know as soon as possible (ideally within 72 hours of delivery) so we can resolve things quickly
  • Share photos so we understand what happened
  • We’ll help arrange a return and refund if needed

You’re always protected when something goes wrong in transit.

Your statutory rights apply for up to 30 days from delivery.

4. What can't be returned

Some items cannot be returned:

  • Bespoke, personalised, or made-to-order pieces
  • Items altered after delivery

5. How to start a return

  1. Log in to your Vinterior account
  2. Open your order
  3. Click Create a return
  4. Add notes + photos if relevant

We'll guide you through the rest.

6. What happens next

  1. We review your request, confirm the return and advise on next steps
  2. Pickup or return method is arranged
  3. The item is returned to the seller
  4. We issue your refund once the seller confirms the item's condition

Returns are completed smoothly once the pickup is arranged.

7. Refunds

Once the seller receives the piece back in the same condition it was sent, we'll issue your refund to your original payment method.

Once a refund is issued, it may take up to 5–10 working days for the funds to appear back on your original payment method, depending on your bank or card provider.

If the item is returned with new damage that wasn't present at delivery, the refund may be adjusted following review.

Need help?

If you have questions about a return or your order, our support team is here to help. Email us at [email protected] or find other ways to contact us here.

What your service fee covers

  • 14-day return guarantee
  • Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
  • Seller vetting
  • Dedicated customer support
Order Value (£) Fee (£)
0 — 49.99 2.75
50 — 99.99 5.50
100 — 199.99 11.00
200 — 399.99 21.00
400 — 599.99 30.00
600 — 799.99 40.00
800 — 999.99 50.00
1,000 — 1,499.99 55.00
1,500 — 1,999.99 60.00
2,000 — 4,999.99 82.50
5,000+ 110.00

Added at checkout, based on your basket total.

Successfully added to cart

0 items

Total

£0.00


Log in or register to continue

Forgot password?

From discovery to delivery, we make finding the right piece feel effortless

Quality Verified sellers with one-of-a-kind finds, built to last
Sustainability Characterful furniture with no environmental baggage
Delivery Handled with care, right to your door
Customer service Real people, ready to help

Price match guarantee

If you find the same item listed at a lower price (including delivery) elsewhere, we'll match it for you.

Why buy on Vinterior?
  • 14-day return guarantee
  • Top customer service
  • 100% secure payment

How it works

  1. Send a screenshot of the item from the other website with date and time visible.
  2. Send us the link of the item on Vinterior and on the other website.
  3. We'll check that it's the same item from the same seller.
  4. If eligible, Vinterior matches the price.
Request a price match

Returns at a glance

  • Free return if the item isn't as described.
  • Flat £75 return fee for UK furniture if you change your mind.
    Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to a mainland UK address. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
  • We arrange pickup for you.
  • 14 days to change your mind.
  • 30 days if the item arrives damaged.

Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.

See full return policy

Choose your preferences

Select your language and currency for the best shopping experience


Language


Currency