Miers, John (SCC Newsletter December 2001)

JOHN MIERS a postscript.

Several of you wrote to me about the John Miers article in the last Newsletter - this was very encouraging. Above I have photocopied a Miers silhouette together with its label, kindly sent to me by a long-standing Member of the Club. As a result of the article she decided to look at the back of her Miers collection - in so doing she noticed that a double-loop çoncavity at the bust-line was backed with a Trade Label No.7. Mrs. McKechnie p.631) states under Trade Label No.5 "some silhouettes backed with this label have a double-loop concavity... " Whereas under Trade Label No.7 she states "All bust-line terminations are long and sharp at the back." The above would appear to be an exception to the rule although it certainly has a sharp point at the back. Clearly it is important not to be too dogmatic about style particularly when trying to date a Miers silhouette.

Just for good measure I have photographed below a copy of a Miers' silhouette of a named gent by Mr. Pass. Mr. Pass is an artist in his own right, but also well known for painting in the style of other artists. As you will see there has been no attempt to 'deceive' in this case - it has been signed on the obverse and has Mr. Pass's label on the reverse. At the moment I am somewhat concerned about 'copies' and fakes - I intend to write about this problem in a future Newsletter.