An utterly delightful charm with a cheeky secret inside! Stanhope jewels date back to the 1850s, and feature a small, single-piece magnifying glass called a Stanhope lens with a microphotograph attached. The convex surfaces of the lens magnify the image so that photographs as small as 1mm squared can be seen without other magnifying tools. Naturally, the ability to hide these photographs in plain sight by placing them within charms, pens, toys, and miniatures led to all sorts of playful possibilities: while scenic photographs inside charms that represent their location (take, for example, a photograph of Niagara Falls placed within a charm shaped like a wooden barrel) were a common take, there was also a popular trend of placing erotica in everyday items! We can't get enough of this article on the rage for photographic miniatures: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/secrets-of-the-worlds-tiniest-photographs/.

The orientation of the lens inside this filthy little piggy is such that the photograph is best viewed with the naked eye when held right up close and looking into its rectum, with a natural light source on the other side. However, the mechanics of photography mean that we were best able to clearly capture the image through the mouth, so in images and video here and on Instagram, you'll see that we've shot it that way.

Given that the piece is made of lead, we don't recommend this piece for prolonged or regular wear, and - as with any jewelry or small pieces - remind you to keep it out of reach of children. Jewelry containing lead is restricted in many places, and this piece is best suited as a curio or conversation starter, and is being sold as such.

Good antique condition with reasonable wear for the piece's age. Gold is worn in many places, but photo is intact and clear with very minimal damage or distortion.

Details:
• Gold plated lead, tested
• 26.4mm by 16.1mm by 7.6mm
• 9.7g