The miniature portrait of Franklin was created by an unknown artist, after Joseph Siffred Duplessis' "fur collar" portrait of 1778. The image is mounted on a small stand or easel, which presents it at an angle for easier viewing. To that stand, a seal with a wreath, stars and monogram has been clipped from a paper and attached. Notes in the object's files state that no actual relationship has been established between the miniature and the papers. The easel-like viewing frame has a rectangular base 3 1/8 inches wide and 2 inches deep. Its veneered sides rise 2 7/8 inches from the base and curl backward.

The image is oval. It has a paper support and thin glass cover held in place by a reeded brass bezel. It rests on a padded ground covered by a red cloth with self-colored woven floral motifs. On the underside of the support is a paper certificate imprinted "Vu et certifié véritable, par nous Membres du Jury des Arts" (Seen and certified to be authentic(?) by us, the members of the Jury of the Arts). Signed in ink Millot(?). The paper and printing appear to be first-half 19th century. It is sealed with red wax; the circular impression in the wax is of intertwined capital letters (WV?) surrounded by a wreath of roses and lilies, on a circlet of 10 stars.