It's my great pleasure to share the Artist's Eye, a lovely project I've been working on in collaboration with Audra Kiewiet de Jonge, founder of Art/artefact. The project comprises a collection of petite antique pins, each featuring a miniature painting of the eye of a renowned woman artist from history, elegantly presented in a bespoke velvet-lined shadow box. When I first saw the pins a few months ago, I was immediately captivated by the romance of the project, so when Audra invited me to collaborate with her and create this series of shadow boxes, I couldn't resist!
If you're unfamiliar with this historic jewelry form, here's a bit of background, from Audra's website, Art/artefact: "Originating as a token of amorous courtship, this highly intimate and personal miniature portrait tradition was briefly popular in England in the Georgian period before the invention of photography and brought into vogue again by Queen Victoria. The likenesses were intended to only be recognizable and of importance to the wearer–the eye often standing in for an unnamed clandestine or forbidden love, and possibly worn in a concealed place."
Audra has reimagined this form of jewelry in a way that celebrates and empowers the gaze of women artists from history, and these small jewels create a powerful connection between the artist and wearer. This first collection includes influential artists Frida Kahlo, Berthe Morisot, Anni Albers, and more. As Audra describes, "Set in antique jewelry pieces, these contemporary portraits are a modern reframing of the Lover’s Eye... to inspire contemporary conversation about art history and how, and for whom, it is recorded. By placing artist’s eyes at the center of this art form, an intimacy is created with these historical women artists that invites a conscious reconsideration of their marks on the world."
What a beautiful idea, to celebrate these very inspirational (and frequently undervalued) artists through a small, talismanic object. The addition of the shadow box to the project allows for the artist's eye pins to be enjoyed and appreciated even when they're not being worn.
Modifying my shadow boxes and trays for jewelry is something I regularly do by request, fitting them with velvet liners for a special piece of jewelry or a watch. This grouping, featuring a carefully considered array of hand-marbled papers and richly colored velvets, was great fun to build.
Needless to say, as an artist myself, I'm smitten by the Artist's Eye pins and can't wait to add a few to my own personal collection... With their own special shadow boxes, of course!
Souvenir is the blog for Parvum Opus, an artist-run studio specializing in artistic decorative objects and home furnishings. We welcome your thoughts! Comment below to join the conversation, and if you enjoyed this, don't forget to subscribe to receive an email when we publish new posts.
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