Lover’s Eye (brass heart)

The pieces in this series were born of a fascination with the ancient tradition of Lover’s Eye jewelry. Updated with an additional sense of the mystical all-seeing or all-knowing eye, and surrounded by other evocative elements including new and vintage glass beads, love, and magic, these miniature works of art have a unique irresistible power.

Experts believe that there are fewer than 1,000 “lover’s eyes” in existence today, based on an ancient secretive tradition, in which lovers would wear an image of the eye of a secret beloved. In the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy British and European lovers exchanged “eye miniatures” — love tokens so clandestine that even now, in the majority of cases, it is impossible to identify their recipients or the people they depict. Experts believe that there are fewer than 1,000 “lover’s eyes” in existence today.

This Lover’s Eye has an ornate baroque frame that has been treated with patina and grunge, a gorgeous glass blue eye, tiny brass heart and my signature vintage Czech glass bleeding heart bead. The frame itself is a mere 1.5″ x 2 1/8″. Strung on an antiqued brass chain that is 24″ with lobster clasp. The back has been texturally treated with embedded treasure as shown. Although these pieces are crafted for stability, there is a certain inherent fragility in the tiny glass bits and piece; if dropped or banged breakage could occur. For that reason, I do recommend wearing these shorter, on the flat upper portion of the chest. Please let me know if you’d like the length adjusted at time of purchase.

When not being worn, this piece would be happily stored on your wall, or in the lovely box it will ship in.

Remember to click on images below to enlarge.