Why ivory as a support?

Thinly cut ivory (0.3 to 0.8 mm) has an evenly warm, slightly translucent ground tone that lends watercolour painting a particular depth and a lively flesh tint. It also takes pigment well while remaining smooth enough for the finest brushstrokes. From the early eighteenth century onwards, vellum and copper supports were almost entirely displaced by ivory.

How large is a typical miniature?

Between 3 and 6 cm in height; the lover's eye, as a special case, is smaller still (1.5 to 3 cm). Larger pieces (up to 10 cm) are rare and belonged to the wall or desk variant rather than to wearable jewellery.

Are ivory miniatures legal today?

Historical ivory miniatures (pre-1947) may be traded within the EU with appropriate documentation (a CITES certificate for pre-Convention acquisition). New pieces made from ivory are largely prohibited internationally; contemporary miniaturists work on synthetic supports or on very thin porcelain plaques.

How should an inherited miniature be conserved?

UV protection is decisive - direct daylight will fade the pigments within decades. Fluctuations in climate warp the ivory and can lead to cracks. Storage in a dark cabinet at stable humidity (50–55 %) is standard. Restoration belongs exclusively in specialist hands.

Miniature Painting on Ivory

Miniature painting on ivory was the leading technique of personal portrait jewellery in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries - the finest watercolour work on ivory plaques 1 to 5 cm across, set in gold mounts and worn as a pendant, brooch or bracelet.

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