To Have and To Hold is a journey into the world of small things worn and used in Europe and the United States between around 1700 and 1900.

Portrait miniatures, needlecases, a mourning ring containing the hair of two young sisters buried thousands of miles apart, and a royal snuffbox with a scandalous history, all feature here. Despite their small size, these precious objects, made from pearls, enamel, diamonds, and human hair, are enduring testaments to the largest of human preoccupations: love, death, and pleasure. All the objects, reproduced in detail and with new photography, and are part of the outstanding collection of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, some are published here for the first time.

Highlights include a snuffbox decorated with portraits of Louis XV’s grandchildren; a watch studded with pearls and diamonds made for Napoleon I’s mother that allowed her to tell the time by touch alone; a mourning ring containing the hair of two young sisters buried thousands of miles apart; two exquisite Fabergé eggs made as royal Easter gifts: the Gatchina Palace Egg and Rose Trellis Egg; and a tiny charm depicting a single eye gifted by a secret lover.

Essays by Jo Briggs and Earl Martin delve into the stories behind these beautiful, intricately-designed objects. Stunning photography of the pieces, many published for the first time, show the exquisite details of these treasures.