No. 11 Lover's Eye Watercolor Archival Print

An archival giclée print of an original watercolor painting of a Georgian Lover’s Eye brooch. The original brooch, in crosshatched black enamel, is formed as an ouroboros (a serpent devouring its own tail) to symbolize eternal love, devotion, and renewal. 8" × 8".

THE HISTORY: Lover's Eyes were a jewelry trend c.1785-1830 of brooches set with tiny watercolor portraits on ivory. Since they were cropped to eyes, they were in many ways more direct and intimate than traditional miniature portraits; but also because they were just eyes, they were often used as daring public testimonies of clandestine love affairs with mystery lovers.