Valentine - Mechanical - scene of barge, troubadours, Temple of Hymen
ca. 1875
Medium
Heavy card-stock, die-cut scraps, chromolithography, white ribbon,lavender paper
Dimensions
Width: 3 11/16 in. (9.3 cm) Length: 5 1/8 in. (13 cm)
Classification
Ephemera|Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Richard Riddell, 1981
Accession Number
1981.1136.870
Art Historical Context
This charming mechanical valentine, created anonymously in Germany around 1875, exemplifies the elaborate paper crafts popular during the Victorian era. Measuring just over five inches long, it was crafted from heavy cardstock using chromolithography—a revolutionary printing technique that produced vivid colors through successive lithographic stones. Die-cut scraps, a white ribbon, and lavender paper were assembled to create a movable scene, allowing the recipient to interact with the artwork by pulling the ribbon to animate the figures. The composition depicts a festive barge carrying trouba...