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A merry christmas

Christmas Card
ca. 1860-ca. 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Robins and holly began to feature on Christmas cards from about the 1850s, but they have a long symbolic history. In Norse mythology the robin was associated with Thor, god of thunder, and ancient druids believed that holly would protect them against evil spirits. Medieval Christian traditions drew associations between the red berries of holly and the robin's red breast with the blood of Christ.

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read The first Christmas card The V&A has had a special interest in collecting and displaying greetings cards since it was established. Our founding director, Henry Cole, sent the first Christmas card in 1843. We now hold the national collection of cards for all occasions, with over 30,000 examples, more than half of w...

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA merry christmas (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph, paper-lace, fabric appliqué, etc.
Brief description
Christmas card with a Christmas tree motif, colour lithograph and paper lace, English, ca. 1860-ca. 1880.
Physical description
Christmas card with a colour illustration of a Christmas tree and the heads of two children at either side of the base. In the background is a winter landscape. The illustration is mounted on paper lace.
DimensionsNo dimensions given in accession record.
Marks and inscriptions
'A merry christmas' (Lettered)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Guy Tristram Little
Subjects depicted
Summary
Robins and holly began to feature on Christmas cards from about the 1850s, but they have a long symbolic history. In Norse mythology the robin was associated with Thor, god of thunder, and ancient druids believed that holly would protect them against evil spirits. Medieval Christian traditions drew associations between the red berries of holly and the robin's red breast with the blood of Christ.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1953 London: HMSO, 1963
Collection
Accession number
E.1925-1953

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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