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Keeping an eye on you – unboxing mysterious miniatures

Take a closer look at some of the V&A’s strangest and most intimate objects: eye miniatures. These tiny portraits of a single eye were painted in extraordinary detail and worn as jewellery, allowing their owners to keep a loved one close in a discreet and deeply personal way.

Discover the eye miniature's role in secret romances, including royal figures such as King George IV, the precious materials they were made from, and the incredible skill of miniature painters. Watch as we uncover the history behind these beautiful, uncanny objects — and why a single eye could say so much.

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Anne of Cleves, portrait miniature in ivory box, by Hans Holbein, 1539. Museum no. P.153-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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