English School, portrait of an eye, late 18th century

The navette shaped brooch with glazed compartment to the obverse and reverse, containing a miniature depicting the portrait of a right eye with brown iris, encircled by clouds, painted on ivory, the reverse with a lock of brown hair, 18th century navette shaped red leather case.

Mounted in gold. In overall very good condition. Brooch pin and suspension loop to the reverse. Original case in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's. We do not guarantee, and are not responsible for any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the property. We do not guarantee that watches are in working order. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue, in particular to the Notice regarding the treatment and condition of gemstones.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

On October 27, 1785, Horace Walpole wrote to the countess of Ossory, "When human folly, or rather French folly can go so far, it would be trifling to instance a much fainter silliness; but you know Madam, that the fashion now, is it not, to have portraits but of an eye? They say 'Lord don't you know it?' A Frenchman is come over to paint eyes here." The fashion for eye miniatures is believed to have started in the middle of the 1700s. The most famous and infamous occurrence is when the Prince of Wales, later George IV, sent Mrs Fitzherbert an eye miniature along with a proposal of marriage, which they went through on the 15^th December 1785. Although the marriage was invalid, the Prince always kept his affection for Mrs Fitzherbert and it is said he wore a miniature of Maria’s eye concealed beneath his lapel as a token of their lasting affection. The fashion soon proliferated and took hold within England, where some of the celebrated miniaturist of the day such as Richard Cosway and George Engleheart, are said to have painted eye miniatures. By the 1800s the eye miniature was adopted as s a mourning jewel, painted with a single tear or encircled by clouds, announcing the sitter’s passing.