From the mid-18th to early 19th centuries, paper-cut silhouettes served as a less-expensive means of portraiture. While you can find cheap versions at flea markets and rummage sales, detailed versions are quite remarkable. Alone, a single silhouette, may be too precious for modern interiors, but a collection of silhouettes is truly striking.
Silhouettes from all eras...
18th Century Reverse Painted Mirror
Staircase of Silhouettes. 1850 Charleston mansion, interior by Mario Buatta via Architectural Digest
Silhouette Styles
Drawing a Silhouette by Johann Rudolph Schellenberg (1740–1806).
A Strong 19th-Century Profile