Metallic Double Cobweb Valentine 1845

This 1845 "Metallic Double Cobweb Valentine" is an example of Victorian-era paper ephemera. The anonymous artist used intricate paper cuts to create a delicate and ornate frame around the centerpiece: a double cobweb with a dove and garland at the top. The cobweb itself is rendered in a metallic silver, and is decorated with red and gold accents, giving the piece a sense of opulence. This Valentine, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, demonstrates the popular trend of expressing affection through intricate paper-based crafts during this period.