English School (mid 17th century): A Miniature Bust Portrait of King Charles I, with eleven mica overlays painted with various outfits, headwear and hair styles and attendant figures, in chronological order showing the King in lifetime through to his execution, in a silk lined stamped leather hinged case, the miniature on copper, 8cm by 6.8cm

In the mid 17th century there was a trend for unusual portrait miniatures with sets of mica overlays to add various outfits and accessories to the miniature in the style of modern paper dolls. The trial and execution of Charles I is the most commonly found subject matter of the extent sets. The image of Charles I is thought to derive from an engraving by the Bohemian artist Wenceslaus Hollar and it is also thought that the full set would have consisted of twenty-four mica overlays, though no complete set is known. Similar examples can be found in the Royal Collection, The National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum. For another similar set see Sotheby's New York, 20 January 2016, lot 2011.

In chronological order the current set of overlays appear to show:
· the King dressed in his crown and robes of office
· in fashionable but informal dress
· in a black hat and black cloak which he wore to attend his trial
· in the black hat he refused to remove during his trial to signify his refusal to recognise the authority of the Court
· asleep in bed the night before his execution
· handing his George badge to Bishop Jaxon, prior to the execution with Bishop Jaxon and another figure, possibly the regicide Matthew Tomlinson
· about to have his nightcap placed on his head as requested to keep his hair off his neck
· with the executioner who wears a mask and false beard to disguise his identity
· with his decapitated head held aloft by the executioner
· his body prostate on the block presented as a martyr figure in fur-lined robes
· a further overlay with an exotic costume remains unidentified