Souvenir

n.p. [Germany] . 1840s.

A pretty and touching little friendship box (87x140x18mm) containing fifteen cards, leaves of papers and embroidered silk stuck to card. They are all from different people and contain a mixture of poems, drawings, paintings, or just the initials of the giver. The theme is "friendship" and the first and the last leaves contain the word "Amitié". The box is made from card, covered with pale green vellum. Top is decorated with a rococo gilt frame and the word "Souvenir" stamped in gilt. Gilded metal clasp. Housed in a green card slipcase. The leaves have gilt edges and date from 1844 to 1849. They were clearly given and collected as a mark of friendship and to ensure that the giver and the recipient kept each other in their memories.