The picture must have been re-framed years ago. Do I need to cut away the glued on paper on the back? I would prefer not to.
Thank you - Tom Nelson

Dear Tom,

You don't have to cut it. I'll appraise your item within this reach of information. No worries. My kind regards. Thanks.

Do you need any more information about this portrait?

thanks - Tom nelson

I don't know if this good news or just no news - but it seems to be taking quite some time here. Can I help in any way?

Dear Tom,

I apologize for the delay. Thank you for your patience. Based on these photos, I concluded that this item is:

This could be, indeed, an authentic contemporaneous portrait made by one of the Empress’ western artists or local artists from Beijing, but it's beyond the scope of an online photo appraisal to do more than give you what it could be worth if it were authenticated and deemed right by an expert on the work of this specific scope of time and familiarized with imperial portraits; Mearto.com can provide authentication services if you like, for an additional charge.

Comparable examples - and their recent auction results - works are as follows: 
Sotheby's 2015 (sold for $27000)(https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5876055) 
Bonhams; imperial portrait of an unknown royal lady ($269000) 
(https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21617/lot/8136/)
Bonhams, imperial portrait of Consort Chunhui, (sold for $5,080,965) 
(https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20491/)
Drouot in Geneva (Switzerland), estimated of CHF 100-150 (https://drouot.com/l/17858361-portrait-presume-de-limperatri)
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination and authentication, this is:

An imperial portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi or Tseu-Hi (慈禧太后) (1835-1908) wearing the full court dress and jewelry of an Empress: she is dressed in her winter robes, with the shoulder cape, collar, cuffs, hem and imperial crown. The imperial crown or Fengguan as well the earrings are also only used in specific special occasions. Around her neck is a torque (lingyue), inlaid with coral and Manchurian pearls, an accessory of Manchu women. Over the lavishly painted robes are the required three strands of her court necklace. The long green kerchief (caishui) here with a floral motif, was an essential part of formal court regalia as dictated by the Huangchao liqi tushi first written in 1759.

Imperial portraits of Cixi are very rare and unique, belonging in most cases to private collections. Most of these artworks are from the Palace Museum, and many have never been exhibited outside of China. This case, this portrait might have been made after 1903 as seen on the Empress’ signals of age and style of clothes. A hint for attributing this portrait to a local painter lies on the use of silk and oil techniques reflected on the painting.

This piece is in great condition and there is no serious damage visible in the images provided. The provenance is inherited. A fair market estimation, if authenticated, would be between 10000 to 270000 USD (based on the minimum and maximum similar painting sold).

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise or if you would like to authenticate it, and thank you again for using Mearto.