Thursday, December 8, 2011

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Victorian Christmas Card

The Victoria & Albert Museum


This Christmas card was made between 1885 and 1900 in Britain and is constructed in a sliding pop-up format. The front of the card is an icy green with gilt ornamentation and shows a pyramid of half a dozen little girls wearing similar party dresses with blue sashes. Each is holding a blue fan.


When the checkered sliding tab at the base of the card is moved to the middle, the pyramid of little ladies is pulled upright, revealing a verse:

"With CHRISTMAS Greetings.
Hide not your beauty with the flirting fan,
But win allegiance to your smiling face;
Be first among the many, if you can,
Queen of them all in comeliness and grace".

The card is signed "Amy with love from George & Maudie"

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