Valentine with lace paper and faux pearls

Exquisite lace paper produced by MANSELL is used in copious layers to create a Valentine with numerous delicate lift-up flaps and openings. Each lace page or flap is edged in gold paint. The top layer is edged in gold, and the lace is further highlighted in gold. A central area of paper has been removed and replaced with blue satin fabric. At the center is a magnificent rosette of folded white satin ribbon, which is dotted with gold paper stars, and six pearl pendants. In the center is a die-cut scrap of a rose and forget-me-nots. The next layer has a bouquet of tiny fabric flowers, with a bright gold Dresden paper die-cut bow. Another layer has a watercolor bouquet, and poetry written in ink. The final layer, consists of two pieces of lace, attached as doors, each with a silver dove affixed, and closed with a silver die-cut of a kneeling Cupid. The doors open to reveal the chromolithographed image of a loving couple, framed with embossed gold.


The embellishments and style lead to the conclusion that this, although unsigned, is from the workshop of Esther Howland.