Gold piquet small tortoiseshell box with lover’s eye. France second half of 19th century.

France second half of 19th century.

Small round box with lid, made of blond tortoiseshell with 18K gold intaglio finishes. On the lid is written, in French, the phrase Gage d’amitié (as a sign of friendship). Inside, on the bottom, there is a gouache painting on paper, depicting the eye of a female figure. This type of miniature, called lover’s eye (eye of a loved one), became very popular in the Georgian period and took on a romantic meaning for separated couples, clandestine and forbidden lovers.
Representing only the looks, the only ones, in theory, who knew the identity of the lover were the owner and the person depicted. The lover’s gaze on oneself was a pledge of mutual love that challenged public morality, without causing scandal.
France, second half of the 19th century.
(SHIPPING ONLY IN EU)

0,50” – 1,3 CM H 1,25” – 3 CM L 1,25” – 3 CM D

REF: M6160