Trends

A New Book on Lover’s Eyes Jewelry Is Out Now

TrendsDec 02, 2021

A New Book on Lover’s Eyes Jewelry Is Out Now

“Lover’s Eyes: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection” features more than 130 examples of the much-sought-after antique style.

20211102_Lovers Eyes book header.jpg
Collectors Nan and David Skier wrote the preface to the new book, “Lover’s Eyes: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection.” Their treasure trove of lover’s eyes is featured in the book.
New York—From engagement rings to anniversary bands, love and romance are at the heart of jewelry.

A new book penned by a group of jewelry experts examines the romantic history of one much-sought-after antique style—“Lover’s Eyes” jewelry.

Published in September by London-based Giles Ltd., “Lover’s Eyes: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection” includes 310 color illustrations.

The book examines the role Lover’s Eyes played in the broader context of Georgian and early Victorian portrait miniatures and explores their enduring appeal.

Lover’s Eyes jewelry features miniature hand-painted portraits of one human eye, created to pay tribute to a loved one, either living or dead.

The jewelry gained popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

20211102_Lovers Eyes book insert.jpg
A gold oval Lover’s Eye brooch with a band of diamonds within a blue glass guilloche border surrounded by white enamel, 1890

Some of the jewels, like the one shown above, feature a compartment for a lock of hair. 

The preface to “Lover’s Eyes” was written by collectors Nan and David Skier, who have amassed a sizable number of lover’s eye jewels.

The book showcases more than 130 pieces from the Skiers’ collection, including 36 newly acquired jewels.

In addition to Lover’s Eyes, the collection also includes six examples of the rare “Flower Eyes,” a subgenre that features eyes surrounded by flowers, and two of the only three known existing “Lover’s Lips.”

The book features illustrated essays, including one on the world of forged and faked Lover’s Eyes, a piece on “Flower Eyes,” and a look into why the eye image persists to the present day.

 Related stories will be right here … 

There is also an essay on Regency-era portrait painter Richard Cosway, who was known for his miniatures. Cosway created a lip portrait of the Prince of Wales’ mouth in 1975, as per his account.

The authors are Elle Shushan, an expert on portrait miniatures; Stephen Lloyd, curator of the Derby Collection at Knowsley Hall in Merseyside, England; and Graham C. Boettcher, the R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama.

The book is a follow-up to 2012’s “The Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection.”

Co-author Boettcher has held a number of museum exhibitions, including one curated in conjunction with “The Look of Love,” which Architectural Digest named one of the “Season’s Best Museum Shows” in 2012.

The hardcover version of “Lover’s Eyes” has a suggested price of $50 and is available at various retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

For more information about the book, visit the publisher’s website.

The Latest

Diamonds Direct Atlanta store
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in Atlanta

It’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.

Stock image of Providence, Rhode Island, skyline
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest State

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.

Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional Edition

Sponsored by Gemological Institute of America

Untitled design.jpg
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price Stability

As the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.

Amazon package outside door
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews

They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.

Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ Market

Lab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.

IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard Dies

A longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.

1872 x 1052 Gemolite.jpg
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional Edition

GIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.

Pomellato Malachite Pom Pom Dot bracelet
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2

The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.

Shane Co. and the Kids in Need foundation logo
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 Backpacks

The fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.

Bulgari high jewelry campaign
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%

Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.

Chaumet Paris 2024 Olympics medals
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High Jewelry

The Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.

Jewelers Mutual and Union Life and Casualty logos
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance Provider

Union Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.

Bradlei Smith
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship Winner

Los Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.

National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales

In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.

De Beers rough diamond display
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2

The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.

Long’s Jewelers giveaway promo
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod Vacation

The giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.

Sophia Moreno-Bunge of Isa Isa modeling Guzema’s Hidden Beauty collection
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ Campaign

The ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.

Tresia Shituula, Monkgogi Moshaga, Mohamed Samu
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant Winners

The grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.

Ghazi “Gus” Michel Osta
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With Customer

Ghazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.

Elyssa Jenkins-Perez and Effie Marinos
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJC

The organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.

Karen Rentmeesters
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEO

Rentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.

Brian and Jessie Mann
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70

Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.

Tudor store in Denver
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor Boutique

The 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Messika’s So Move Max Necklace
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ Necklace

Dance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.

Julien Tornare and Antoine Pin
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs

Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.

Etsy billboard rendering in NYC
MajorsJul 18, 2024
New Etsy Campaign Prioritizes Creators Amid Backlash

Sellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy