Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20

Late 18th/Early 19th Century Lovers Valentine Hand Painted Cobweb Birdcage

$3,159.16
£2,295
€2,697.98
CA$4,370.18
A$4,816.24
CHF 2,521.46
MX$59,158.66
NOK 31,682.72
SEK 29,652.50
DKK 20,144.21

About the Item

A museum quality hand painted and cut paper cobweb, also know as beehives, flower cages, or birdcages. This particular examples has a hand painted watercolour exterior with a cottage and figures and hung internally with a cut-out pendant bird nursing to a nest of eggs, all mounted to square annotated card. This was given to a Mary Anne Loveday, likely a soon to be mother. The cobweb formed the perfect sanctuary to enclose a private message that could only be revealed when the recipient of the card carefully pulled up the thread, causing the concentric circles of the web to rise and magically expose its hidden compartment. The concept of secrecy and the element of surprise frequently recurs in valentines, as they speak to the intimacy that has always been a part of the language of love. Some very minor damage to the extremely intricate mechanical web, but the piece works perfectly. An extremely rare survivor, comes with its original envelopes and a purpose made turned wood and brass hanging hook. cobweb when flat measures 14/15cm Stand is 42cm in height
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 5.52 in (14 cm)
  • Style:
    George III (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 18th/Early 19th
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Lowestoft, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU4612144923292

More From This Seller

View All
19th C Hand Painted Entomology Studies Gothic Revival Shadow Box Taxidermy Curio
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A collection of finely painted entomology studies, on card later mounted and set within a fantastic velvet lined, glazed period gothic revival shadow box. The shadow box has its or...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Taxidermy

Materials

Velvet, Glass, Pine, Paper

19th Century English Regency Toleware & Brass Parrot Bird Stand
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A rare and early 19th century original painted toleware and brass parrot stand, age related abrasions. knocks and minor dents all commensurate from age and use. The brass section has...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Taxidermy

Materials

Brass

19th Century Oil On Tin Bird of Pray Golden Eagle
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A charming and well executed oil on tin depiction of a golden eagle perched on a rock face with a pleasing pallet of pink and yellow. 19th century in age, housed in it original oval...
Category

Antique 19th Century European Paintings

Materials

Pine

English 1790 George III Quill Work Scrollwork Decorated Tea Caddy
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A wonderful 18th century George III quill work (scrollwork) tea caddy of elongated hexagon form. English circa 1790 Decorated with floral panels and ...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Tea Caddies

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Parrot Ink Well, Glass Eyes, Hand Dyed Feathers
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A quirky little ink well in the form of a parrot/parakeet, turned wooden caucus with applied beak, glass eyes and hand dyed feathers. The top section hinged to reveal the inkwell w...
Category

Early 20th Century European Taxidermy

Materials

Metal

19th Century Sicilian Italian Marionette Folk Art Puppet 'Opera dei Pupi'
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A oversized late 19th century Marionette in original untouched condition, originating from Palmero Italy. The figure is missing both arms, its original clothing is heavily fad...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Carnival Art

Materials

Textile, Pine

You May Also Like

19th century large wire frame decorative bird cage
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century large wire frame decorative bird cage circa 1890. Large wire frame parrots cage. 2 parts, with removable dome top with bull ring fitment. No fittings included. Ideal d...
Category

Antique 1890s Swedish Victorian Painted Furniture

Materials

Wire

Antique Folk Art Wire/Wood Birdcage
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique bird house is composed of wire and wood framing and floor. The front facade has an arched center section and side "towers." There are th...
Category

Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Planters and Jardinieres

Materials

Wood

Awesome Mixed-Media Birdcage Sculpture
By Fay Sciarra
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A beautiful and thoughtful found object sculpture titled Cage of Fear made from a vintage birdcage collaged with gingham, leopard fabric and cigar box wrappings. Inside the cage is a 3 dimensional arrangement of mixed-media objects including childrens' blocks that spell F E A R, the hand of a clock, a disturbing plastic doll that hangs from a pulley, and deer horns. The interior of the cage is a metaphor for the jail of fear we construct in our own minds, while outside the cage there remains a constant of beauty and hope. An antique shamrock paper clip at the top suggests luck, a Murano glass piece of candy and vintage brass cherub...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Steampunk Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Metal and Wood American Bird Cage, Circa 1905
Located in Incline Village, NV
Hand made Folk Art American wire metal and painted wood birdcage, probably from Pennsylvania circa 1905. Having a rectangular body with a dome top; suitable for hanging, or surface decorative presentation, this birdcage is functional albeit it lacks a perch. The single door entry/exit is spring loaded, and there is a metal slide out removable tray at the bottom. The tole painting...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Bird Cages

Materials

Metal

Large 19th C. Hand Crafted Birdcage on Stand Antique Decorative Interior Design
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Large 19th C. Hand Crafted Birdcage on Stand Antique Decorative Interior Design. Rare and imposing Chateau large 19th century walnut hand carved and hand forged crafted Birdcage from...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Bird Cages

Materials

Metal, Iron

Antique Victorian Wire Domed Birdcage
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique Victorian domed wired bird cage with gold accents.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Aesthetic Movement Bird Cages

Materials

Wire