Enamel Portrait Miniatures

First produced in the early seventeenth century, enamel miniatures offer a window into the social and political worlds in which they were made. Enamels were particularly valued for their durability - there was no better medium for a portable display of allegiance, or for keeping the likeness of a loved one close.





Creating a miniature in enamel was described in the eighteenth-century as difficult, laborious and complicated. Before a practitioner could express their artistic skill, they must first master the rigorous science of the process; only a handful of remarkably gifted makers were able to create the exquisite miniature portraits held in the V&A's superlative Gilbert Collection.






Using stunning new photography of 60 miniatures from this collection, this book explores the history and making of these beautiful objects.