LOVE TOKEN / VALENTINE. A Beautiful tiny nineteenth-century German LOVE TOKEN. Inscribed 'Birkmaier' with military connection.

Descripción

A rare and beautiful Love Token, inscribed on the reverse: Birkmaier 27. January 1822 [? could be 1872, see picture]. The height is 5.5 cm. and the width about 4.5cm. The backing is paper card with gilt paper filigree boarder (small sections missing), on top of which is oval-shaped very delicate filigree thread work. Finally, there are two tiny full-colour printed figures about 3 cm. high, one a young woman / girl in a distinctive dress style with shoulder bag and her hands behind her head; the other figure is a soldier with plumed helmet and again distinctive uniform, leaning towards her. A fair assumption that this is German in origin. A charming and extremely rare survival, better still, as dated. The style of the figures and of the whole design does suggest the earlier date of 1822 (or even 1812). "Germany in particular seems to have played a leading role in the development of the valentine industry. Using the latest inventions in decorative paper and graphic arts, colored, embossed papers and (chromo-) lithographs, for example some of these "tokens of love" became veritable masterpieces of virtuosic craftsmanship." (Metropolitan Museum) Possibly the only surviving example of this miniature gem. 60% price reduction now applied. N° de ref. del artículo 000833

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