Late 19th-Century Oval Crayon Portrait

This item is an antique oval-framed crayon portrait (also known as a solar print or charcoal enlargement) dating from the late 19th century, likely between 1880 and 1900. The portrait depicts a middle-aged man and woman in Victorian-era attire. The man wears dark formal clothing with spectacles, while the woman is dressed in a dark bodice featuring a prominent white lace collar. The image is presented in a deep-profile, oval-shaped wooden frame with a dark mahogany or walnut finish, which was highly popular during the late Victorian period. The portrait displays significant physical distress; there is a major linear tear or large area of paper loss running horizontally across the man's chest and lapel, revealing a white substrate beneath. The surface shows atmospheric foxing and generalized fading consistent with age and exposure to light. The craftsmanship reflects the era's common technique of using a faint photographic base that was meticulously hand-finished with charcoal and pastels to give it a painterly, three-dimensional look. The textured background and subtle flesh tones are characteristic of this composite photographic-artistic medium. The glass appears to be original, though it shows some surface grime.