Georgian Love Token

As evidenced by many large-scale portraits, the wearing of portrait miniature bracelets became fashionable during the eighteenth century and was influenced by Queen Charlotte who worn a miniature portrait the King on a pearl bracelet. Bracelet portraits were often gifted between husband and wife and worn as love tokens. Pearls and woven hair were the two most popular ways to string these clasps, the latter being made more personal by the use of the sitter’s own hair as may be the case in this example.

With his hair unpowered and worn en queue, this gentleman is wearing the undress version of the Windsor uniform. The Windsor uniform, of blue coat and red collar, dates from the early part of the reign of George III and was worn only by members of the Royal Household and a privileged few with the Sovereign’s express permission.

Held in a gold setting, the finely painted portrait is in very good condition with just a spot of paint loss to the edge at 5 o’clock and a little light dust under the glass. The neatly woven hair band is flexible to fit and in excellent condition.