Mail-order silhouette, mat, or frame
Hand-made Portraits, shipped to you:
If you won’t be near one of the posted events on the schedule, or you have wiggly children that can’t stay still, you can order a silhouette by email – delivered by mail. A Mail-Order custom artisan-created portrait is an excellent solution for distance customers, or customers with many children – you can create heirloom portraits to pass through your family, or a fun picture for gifting. These silhouettes are elegant Christmas or other gift.
Each silhouette is still cut by hand with only scissors in the traditional manner, and mounted on a card large enough to frame – that you can cut down to your frame choice, or to purchase a rare style of frame here (see below). If you value hand-made artisan work, this is a portrait for your taste!
Silhouette portraits make excellent gifts for family, friends, and loved ones, heirlooms of your own family, or just for fun. For hundreds of years over many countries, silhouettes have been a staple portrait form – they are one of the most recognized and well-loved portrait styles. These are the same style of Colonial or Victorian silhouettes you have seen (and loved) in museums or on your grandmother’s wall.
Every effort is made to create a reproduction of your loved one’s photo, not a stylized version.
Sample silhouettes can be seen here.
Perfect reasons to create silhouette portraits:
- Starting a family tradition
- Holiday gifts: Christmas or Hanukah
- Thank you gifts
- Historical style portraits for history enthusiasts
- Party favors or place-holders (special pricing for this option will make you smile!)
- Birthday gifts
- Wedding gifts
- Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Grandparents’ Day portrait gifts of the children – or other loved ones.
- Celebration of a historical day, like Founder’s Day, George Washington’s Birthday, President’s Day, Independence Day
- Create a “Back To School” tradition every year
- Family portraits
- Wedding or engagement portraits
- Portraits of favorite famous people (profiles only, please)
For your Portrait(s) – What to send:
- Send a clear, in-focus, profile (side-view) photo by email (see below on “How To Order”).
- The view should show shoulders upwards to the top of the head. Make sure that the top of the head shows with space above the head.
- Try to make the picture a direct profile; not from the top, nor from behind the shoulder, nor slightly from the front. This correct profile will create the correct anatomical shape from which to cut the portrait.
- The subject should not smile or open the mouth, but look like he/she has a straight face with closed lips. (Smiling pulls the lips back and shows teeth, and distorts the true beauty of the mouth area)
- Try to show a neutral background, preferably in a light color. (It is best not to show a dark-haired person against a dark background, as an example)
- If the person has long hair, send 2 photos: one photo that shows hair length to top of head, the other that shows shoulders to top of head.
Pet Portraits also:
Silhouettes by Hand has done many animals in live portraiture, so your pet can be immortalized in his/her personal silhouette. Read about pet portraits here. Send your animal’s profile image for price estimation. In most cases, pet portraits may be the same cost as human prices (see below) – full length pet portraits will be an extra cost. Create a “family portrait” of your dog, cat, bird, horse, potbelly pig, flying monkey, clouded leopard, or any one of your favorite animal friends. (Left: “Uncle Remus” the horse was captured in silhouette at a live event at Old Bedford Village, PA.). Your pet’s photo should follow the human directions above.
Silhouette Portrait Costs:
- $30.00 for 2 (two) hand-cut silhouettes from the same image. Ordering two portraits allows you to gift one or both portraits… or keep one for yourself, starting your own heirlooms.
- Additional silhouettes from the same image will be custom-discount-priced. Many people choose this option for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives.
- Family-portraits pricing, party favor silhouettes, or party-place holder portraits have special pricing – ie; several or many people with one order. Please write for pricing, explaining your desires.
- PLUS shipping/handling : will vary by the amount of silhouettes requested and location to send.
(OPTIONAL) Costumed Portraits:
If you are a history enthusiast, you may want your portrait in your period clothing. For photos sent with historic hats, wigs, etc, will incur a slightly higher price. The higher price is due to the higher amount of time and difficulty to create your portrait. Your price will be quoted before cutting.
(OPTIONAL) Custom Full Length Portraits:
As made famous by the 19th century silhouette portraitist Augustin Eduoart, a full-length portrait can be created for you. This option is custom-priced: send email and sample full-length, profile picture to silhouettesbyhand@gmail.com with the subject: “Full Length Portrait”. I suggest that you view the Edouart link to see what images made him the master, and how you too can master your own portrait in this way.
(OPTIONAL) Custom Oval-Opening Mats:
Historical-style 8×10″ black mats with oval openings, custom made especially for Silhouettes By Hand. The reason why these mats have been made especially for you is that they are rarely found in stores – you now have the opportunity of creating a traditional display inexpensively. The oval mats are created especially for the most common size of the cut silhouettes. They are a decor-neutral black color, with a finished size of 8×10″ –perfect for framing with your chosen 8×10″ frame purchased at your favorite location. (These do not fit in the oval frames).
Cost for each: $5.00 plus shipping and handling.
Add $10.00 if you want this mat to fit into the square frame. It has to be cut down.
(OPTIONAL) Rare Oval or Square Frames:
Silhouettes By Hand offers rare frames if you haven’t yet decided how to present and display your silhouette, for yourself or for a gift. Presenting a silhouette in a frame looks prepared and finished. Prices start at $25 (before shipping) depending on your frame interest. A description is found on the Frames page:
- Uncommon and elegant OVAL all-wood frames with hand-painted gold circle (5×7 or 8×10)
- Custom-created (and also rare) SQUARE frame, 5×5. These frames are made specifically for Silhouettes By Hand profiles. Stock and immediate availability can vary; please inquire if interested.
How To Order:
Send email to silhouettesbyhand@gmail.com with the title “Purchase request”, and the photo and requests. Your pricing will be estimated and sent to you. Pay Pal, Credit Cards, and Check payments available. To order, you will need:
- The picture(s) of the subject (see above, “What to send”) – especially if estimating a price.
- The number of silhouettes desired.
- OPTIONAL: Custom-cut oval mats – how many mats.
- OPTIONAL: Your frame style and size interest (photos can be sent to show frames).
- Preference on payment: Paypal, credit card, or check.
- CREDIT CARDS: require a phone call to get your credit card details, or you can pay credit card on Paypal. Your credit card information will *not* be retained. Please provide your phone number and 3 possible available times to call you.
- CHECK: If you would like to pay by check, please mention “check” in your order and you will be provided with an address to send your check. All orders will be created after payment is received.
- PAYPAL: If using Paypal, give the email address connected to Paypal.
- Your shipping address.
Turnaraound:
The turnaround will vary depending on travel or event schedule, but every effort will be made to send your silhouettes as timely as possible, often within a few days of payment confirmation.
Questions?
Write to Lauren to ask questions or to arrange for your silhouettes.
Do you have a special request not mentioned here? Just ask! We may be able to work something for your desires.
Tags:
Custom, portraits, Christmas gifts, mail-order, Victorian, Colonial, Regency, profiles, silhouettes, shadow portraits, United States, Canada, silhouette frames, silhouette mats
