Picture Perfect

Portraiture is a craft rooted in prehistoric times that has been important for different reasons throughout history. Long before the days of photography, Roman emperors had coins created in their likeness so that their subjects would know what they looked like. Some ancient cultures viewed portraits as a way to achieve immortality. In more modern times, the Old Masters painted portraits of kings, queens and nobility as their primary source of income.

In the Victorian era, it was not uncommon to see miniature portraits painted on porcelain or ivory and mounted in a lovely gold pendant, like the one pictured here (top). This particular portrait features a young woman painted on porcelain and set in this gold and pearl framed pendant, which is approximately the size of a quarter. In many cases these pendants would double as hair lockets on the reverse side. These miniature portraits made wonderful tokens of affection.

  Today portrait pendants are making a bit of a comeback. Images of loved ones are being set in beautiful pieces made of either gold or silver with a highly stylized element. These little trinkets can be worn alone or in groups - in the case of the mother who wants a portrait of each child, for example. This modern take on the portrait pendant has an unusual cover that swivels over the photos (shown right). What a charming way to keep loved ones close to your heart! Print this post