No. 17 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, English, ca. 1800–1810, features a rare pare of double eyes framed in etched gold by a coiled ouroboros (an engraved gold serpent devouring its own tail) symbolizing eternity, unity, and everlasting love. 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.