Description

Width: 28.5cm

Height: 24.5cm

A rare and romantic piece of Victorian ephemera: this exquisite 19th-century Valentine fan, beautifully preserved and framed, is dated 14th February 1870. Designed in the shape of a fan with five delicately scalloped panels, each petal is adorned with printed floral garlands, hand-colored detailing, and poetic verses in true Victorian sentimental fashion.

Set against a deep red velvet backing and mounted in a charming gilt gesso frame with corner flourishes, the fan includes its original silk tassel and golden cord. Each panel of the fan features a different love verse surrounded by forget-me-nots, roses, and other symbolic flowers. A printed label at the bottom right confirms its presentation date—Valentine’s Day 1870.

This highly decorative and emotionally evocative piece is a rare survivor of the golden age of romantic printed Valentines and would make a beautiful addition to a collection of antique love tokens, papercraft, or Victorian social history.