No. 16 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, from the Skier Collection (Cat. 53), is English, ca. 1800–1810, in yellow gold surrounded by red coral. Coral was prized in Georgian jewelry for its protective and life-giving associations, symbolizing vitality, affection, and enduring passion. 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.