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Lover's Eye Ring w/ Pearls, ca 1820 browse these categories for related items... All Items: Archives: Estate Jewelry: Gold: Pre Victorian: Pre 1837 VR: item # 260777 Please refer to our stock # JC85 when inquiring.
Granite Pail Collectibles P. O. Box 5353 Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-608-3344 Guest Book SOLD |
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| Early 19th century lover’s eye miniature, in watercolor on ivory, set into a gold ring, circa 1800-1820. A wonderful tradition in sentimental jewelry, the eye miniature was the most intimate token of love – only the recipient and subject, the lover and beloved, knew the eye’s identity. It was popularized by the Prince of Wale (later George IV), the center of England’s fashionable world, during the last decades of the 18th century. Falling in love with the Catholic Maria Fitzherbert, a taboo for a royal prince, he married her in secret, though the marriage was not legal. It was said that they exchanged eye miniatures set into rings. This beautifully made ring depicts a left eye with a blue iris, set into a gold ring with a lovely seed pearl border. The shoulders feature a figure eight motif, symbolizing eternal love. Ring is in overall very good condition (just some adhesive residue on the reverse!). Shank is slightly out of round. Size 5 ¼. | ||||||
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