Eye miniature jewellery

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Made in order to preserve the anonymity of a lover or a loved one, just as memorable item, Eye miniature jewellery

Eye miniature jewellery
Such commemorative miniatures were in vogue and became very popular in the 1790 – 1820’s in England, then in France, and Russia. The eyes of lovers were portrayed in jewelry: brooches, rings, bracelets and pendants, on the boxes, and wallets. Most often, these miniatures were made on on ivory. Often with a miniature was kept a lock of hair of beloved one.
The history of the emergence of these miniatures is as follows:
Prince of Wales (later King George IV) was in love with the widow Maria Fitzherbert (she was a Catholic and six years older than him) and made her a proposal. According to belief, sometime around 1785, Mrs. Fitzherbert commissioned Richard A. Cosway, a London miniaturist, to paint one of her eyes. The portrait painted on ivory, was placed behind glass and set within a locket. December 15, 1785 was their secret wedding.

Maria Fitzherbert, (1756-1837), circa 1788

The artist miniaturist, Richard Cosway painted only the eyes of lovers. They exchanged them and thereby maintained anonymity and decency. But the marriage was invalid, since his father George III did not approve it. As they say – a miniature “eyes of Mary”, George IV wore hidden under the lapel.

Eye miniature jewellery

Also, these miniatures were made as a memory of a deceased spouse or child. Preserved brooches, pins, medallions, casket, bracelets, which show only eyes. Often, side by side with them was a curl or twist of hair of a loved one, a child’s or relative’s, not only a lover. On bracelets and medallions sometimes occured multiple thumbnails, then memorial decorations were very much in fashion. Many of the “eyes” were paired with portraits or entirely thumbnails. Such pairs have survived in museums.

Antique brooches

Today, many of these little things look exotic, and even frightening. As there was no photography, a miniature portrait was very expensive. The most important thing – they maintained anonymity, exchanged by lovers who wished to keep their relationship a discreet secret.

Noteworthy, not only lovers, but family members were portrayed. The bracelet design, for instance, could include four eyes, each belonging to a member of one family and bearing the initials of each individual. Also, mourning pieces contained the eye of a departed loved one, sometimes set in a frame of pearls which symbolized tears.

Exotic jewelry

Antique Eye brooch pin

Eye Miniature Portrait. Gerald Sinclair Hayward (1845-1926), a Canadian miniature painter

Miniature Portrait. Gerald Sinclair Hayward (1845-1926), Canadian painter

Eye miniature ring. Georgian. Dated 1816. The ring is engraved to reverse AG 24 May 1816

Ring. Georgian. Dated 1816. Engraved to reverse AG 24 May 1816

Eye miniature jewellery

Elaborate jeweled frame. Georgian. Circa late 1700s

Georgian eye miniature with a lock of hair

Lover’s eye handpainted on ivory of a beautiful woman with a hazel eye, surrounded by brown curls. Mounted in gold shell pendant

Georgian. C. 1790

C. 1820, man’s miniature eye, hand painted on ivory, set in a yellow gold

Lover's eye. Circa 1800. An enigmatic enamel eye in the overall eye shape

An enigmatic enamel eye in the overall eye shape. Circa 1800

Mourning eye miniature. English. Circa 1820. Eye miniature brooch surrounded by diamonds set in black enamel and with a split pearl border

Mourning eye brooch. English. Circa 1820. Diamonds, black enamel, pearl

Soldier with Lover’s Eye

The oval ring of pink gold surrounded by blue enamel with ten small and two large diamonds in a frame made from freshwater pearls. c. 1790. from Dr. David and Mrs. Nan Skier Collection

The oval ring of pink gold, blue enamel, ten small and two large diamonds in a freshwater pearl frame. c. 1790. Dr. David and Mrs. Nan Skier Collection