Banjo, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 4) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small card from the Novelties series, printed by Kinney Bros., depicts a banjo adorned with roses. Roses, symbols of love and beauty, have a rich, cross-cultural resonance. In ancient Greece and Rome, roses were associated with goddesses of love, such as Aphrodite and Venus. Here, their placement on a banjo invites us to consider how symbols adapt across cultures: the banjo, deeply rooted in African American musical tradition, now bears the rose. This combination creates a poignant dialogue between different cultural expressions of love and beauty. The romantic connotations of roses blend with the vibrant, soulful music of the banjo, stirring collective memories and emotions. This subtle fusion reminds us of the ever-evolving nature of symbols as they traverse time and culture.