SALON

Five-Minute Museum

The secret history of "lover's eyes"

An Alabama exhibition highlights historical love tokens so mysterious we still don't know whom they depict

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    Skier Collection

    Dark red leather wallet with gold decorated engine turned clasp containing eye and hand miniatures, 1882.
  • Slide

    Skier Collection

    Dark red leather wallet with gold decorated engine turned clasp containing eye and hand miniatures, 1882.
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    Skier Collection

    Blue enamel, diamond and pearl ring, ca. 1790.
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    Skier Collection

    Thomas Richmond the Elder (British, 1771-1837), attributed. Gold ring with heart-shaped miniature surmounted by gold and diamond crown, ca. 1835.
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    Skier Collection

    George Engleheart (British, 1750-1829), Eye set in yellow gold navette-shaped ring surrounded by paste stones, ca. 1790.
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    Skier Collection

    Rose gold oval brooch surrounded by seed pearls with Prince of Wales’s Feathers, undated.
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    Skier Collection

    Yellow gold ring with black and white enamel decoration, 1808.
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    Skier Collection

    Octagonal silver and gold brooch surrounded by diamonds, ca. 1800.
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    Skier Collection

    Gold oval pendant surrounded by seed pearls. Mourning motifs in mother-of-pearl, ivory and gold against blue glass background, ca. 1830.
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    Skier Collection

    Heart-shaped gold ring with Hessonite garnet surround; sepia and embroidered hairwork image on reverse, ca. 1790.
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    Skier Collection

    Gold oval ring with white, blue and pink enamel, 1795.
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    Skier Collection

    So-called “Memory Box” made of embossed and painted paper containing eye miniature, ca. 1830.
 

Five-Minute Museum is a weekend art series that previews interesting exhibitions -- current or upcoming -- from across the country.