New England Auctions
Live Auction

AMERICANA COLLECTIONS - Stass & Gemmill

Wed, Jan 14, 2026 09:00AM EST
Lot 622

P.R. Vallée - Portrait Miniature of U.S. Naval Lieutenant John B. Nicholson

Estimate: $800 - $1,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$200 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$1,000,000 $50,000

P.R. Vallée (French, active U.S. 1803-1815)  Portrait miniature of 'Lieutenant John B. Nicholson, U.S. Navy'. Gouache and watercolor on ivory in gold case. Signed 'Vallée', lower right. Case reverse with braided lock of hair and superimposed gold initials 'JBN'. Circa 1809.

H 2-3/4 in. W 2-3/8 in.

 

Condition

Very fine hairline crack. The blotches in the background behind the sitter are not mold. Dr. Carol Aiken, PhD, leading miniature conservator in the US, states that these marks are typical to Vallée miniatures, including a piece at the Yale Art Gallery.

Shipping/Pickup

7) Arrangement and costs of shipping are the responsibility of the buyer. New England Auctions does not ship or arrange shipping. All shipping is outsourced. All buyers and shippers must come prepared with appropriate packing materials and help for heavy items. Our staff will not be available to help move heavy items. If a live aution payment is made by check, items will be held 7 business days before an item is released for shipping. Items can be picked up in person or by a shipper at 14 Business Park Drive - Unit 5, Branford, CT - BY CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact the gallery 24 hours in advance to make an appointment. Pickup can be scheduled for Monday through Friday between 9am - 3pm beginning the Monday after the date of the auction. Please note that all first-time live auction buyers that wish to pick items up in person must pay with cash. To help expedite shipping, lots will be released to Village Express after payment has cleared. If you wish to use an alternate shipper, please send an email immediately. A list of local shippers includes: The Village Express, Branford, CT 203-481-7426 or (vexpress@comcast.net), Attn: Kristen. The UPS Store #5105 at 203-772-4445 or (store5105@theupsstore..com), Attn: Manjit. (for licensed transport across state lines): Outward Bound Courier Logistics, Dalton, MA at 413-854-3676, Attn: Alan or Ben. GNLE Delivery, Stockton, NJ at 908-256-3947, Attn: Kieran Giannelli. For fine art, furniture, and shippers that crate: Maquette FAS CT, Branford, CT at 203-640-8453, Attn: Kevin. Plycon Transportation Group 631-269-7000. Codogan Tate 718-689-7969. US ART 718-986-6500. Purchased items that have been paid for but not picked up or shipped from our auction facility within 21 days of the auction will be stored at a rate of $5 per day per lot. Storage fees and late fees must be paid before items are released. There are no exceptions. Items not picked up within 60 days of the auction date will be considered in default and become the property of New England Auctions. ***