A throw back to a forgotten age, when "shades" were a worthy genre for the most skilled artists of the day. At that time silhouettes were little miniature miracles, often painted on glass or plaster, very simple, and yet executed with an extraordinary attention to detail. Charles Burns is widely regarded as the best silhouette cutter working in the country today, and these silhouettes represent his finest work.

Two pairs of silhouettes, painted to commission with gold embossing and a coloured ribbon, glass mounted and framed into ovals.

Charles' silhouettes are cut from paper and embossed with detail in white and gold, even down to the odd stray wisp of hair! This fragile paper portrait is then mounted onto glass in such a way as to throw a shadow of itself onto the dead white of the acid free paper behind. A shadow of a shadow, if you like. A shade of a shade!

These jewel like portraits create a feeling of intimacy and closeness to the subject that cannot be compared to any other art form. People often remark that they seem to reaveal the character of a person in a way that a photograph never can. With prices starting at just £95 (+ VAT in the UK) inclusive of glass mounting and framing (!); it is not hard to understand why Charles' portraits are collected all over the world, and have travelled as far afield as America, Dubai, Japan, and even Australia!

Two half-length silhouettes, who both chose to be portrayed with a glass in their hand! Half length profiles are a speciality of Charles'. They are less formal than the traditional "head & shoulders", and yet they have many of the attributes of the more expensive full-length silhouettes.

Price List

Simplicity is a great virtue. Although Charles' silhouettes are available in a wide variety of attitudes (and frames), they come in only three prices:

1. Tradional bust lengths, glass mounted and set into oval frames: £120.00 (+ VAT in the UK)
   Or: £200.00 per pair (+ VAT in the UK)
2. Half-lengths, & double portraits, also glass mounted and set into frames: £150.00 (+ VAT in the UK)
3. Full length silhouettes, complete with drop shadow, glass-mounting, and a custom made frame: £200.00 (+ VAT in the UK)

Charles can also create a variety of silhouette scenes containing any number of people in various poses. These are family groups are traditionally known as "conversation pieces". If you buy one you'll soon find out why!
Prices on application.

A little extra idea:

The "Board Room" model. A truly spectacular life size silhouette embellished with gold and glass-mounted into a 3ft wooden oval: £450.00 (+ VAT in the UK)

Notes

1. All these prices include the frames! No extra costs at all!
2. All frames come complete with a round brass hanger at the top (not shown in these illustrations).
3. These prices exclude VAT (Sales tax), currently 17.5% in the U.K. Non-EC residents (ie: those of you living in the U.S.A. and other such far afield places) will not have to pay this!
4. These prices are for portraits done from photographs, or from private sittings in my own studio (recommended!) Charles is happy to undertake Home Visits, but these are subject to an appropriate "call-out" charge.
5. Call out charges can sometimes be avoided if a meeting can be scheduled to co-incide with another appointment in your locality
6. Carriage extra (charged at cost)

A pair of full-length silhouettes
These make an interesting commemorative gift for a special occassion.
Cost £200 each (+ VAT in the UK)

Ordering your "Regency style" silhouette(s)

1. Make an apointment to visit the artist's Berkshire studio, see the full range of work, and pose for a short sitting. (Recommended)
2. Ask Charles to make a home visit (UK only). Note that such visits are normally subject to small call-out charge dependant on distance and size of order.
3. Send a selection of photographs to:
   Charles Burns Silhouettes, PO Box 2041, Emmer Green, Caversham, Berks. RG4 8ZG, U.K.
   You will need to include payment (UK cheques, or international money order)
4. If you're feeling high tech you could e-mail them to: charles@edobarn.demon.co.uk
   (Good quality Jpeg files are best for this, but I can read most things.) Nothing bigger than 80K please! I will then confirm the price. Payment will need to be by post.

If using options 3 or 4 DON'T FORGET to include your postal address (since your silhouettes will be sent by post), and either an e-mail address or telephone number (in case I need to clarify anything with you).

[ Top of Page ]

Text and images (including background images and icon gifs) are copyright protected. Do not reproduce without express permisson.
©Charles Burns/www.roving-artist.com/The Edo Barn Site/charles@edobarn.demon.co.uk/This page was last updated October 2003