Child Prayer Portraits Appraisal

Pair of Mid-Century Ornate Gilt Framed Child Prayer Portraits

A matching pair of vintage wall art pieces featuring oval portraits of a boy and a girl in a pious, prayerful pose. These portraits are characteristic of Mid-Century religious or sentimental home decor, likely dating from the 1950s to 1970s. Each portrait is encased in a highly ornate, Rococo-style oval frame with a faux-gilt finish. The frames feature intricate openwork filigree, scrolling acanthus leaves, and stylized fleur-de-lis crests at the top and bottom. The material of the frames appears to be a molded syroco-style resin or lightweight composite wood, designed to mimic heavy carved bronze or brass. The portraits themselves are prints under glass, depicting young children with soft, idealized features, luminous skin tones, and eyes turned slightly upward, typical of the 'Guardian Angel' or devotional artistic style popular in the mid-20th century. The girl on the left has brown layered hair, while the boy on the right is blonde. The color palette is muted, consisting of cream, soft sepia, and greyish-blue tones. Regarding condition, the frames show a dark aged patina within the recessed decorative areas, which may be intentional highlighting or light accumulated dust. The glass on the left portrait shows some glare, while the print on the right shows a small dark spot or imperfection on the cheek of the boy, possibly a printing flaw or minor moisture damage under the glass. The overall craftsmanship suggests mass-production for the domestic market, yet they remain popular collector's items for Shabby Chic or vintage religious decor enthusiasts.