Silk Valentine

This very pretty Valentine is made up of a silk base oval, then an embossed and coloured image of the girl and flowers. Further applied feather decoration surrounds the image. The oval is gilt then cut paper to another rectangle of gilt. Finally there is a pressed paper  surround and all is applied to a rectangle of decorated paper. This forms the front of the card which opens to a blank inner. Seldom are these silk cards marked by the manufacturer but it is included amongst the Stevens’ work because it is silk. They were produced by Stevens from 1868 and sold at 6s 6d. Most had an oval silk panel. Dimensions 9 cms x 13 cms.