**Reserved for KMD** No. 2889 Lover's Eye Painting on an English Sepia Transferware Landscape Plate
Lover's Eye painting on an English brown transferware and hand-colored plate with a landscape scene and scalloped border, measuring 5.75"; paired with frame from a 1794 English landscape engraving depicting "A West View of Richmond in Surry from the Star and Garter on the Hill", measuring 8.25" x 8.25".
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.
THE CHINA: Many of my Lover's Eyes are set in antique saucers and dishes which not only work as unexpected frames but add a layer of historical narrative on top of the origin story. Each piece has a unique blend, so that some are more romantic, some more exotic, and some more otherworldly.
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