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A7520 Scrapbooks (2), paper, maker unknown, place of production unknown, 1880-1890. Click to enlarge.

Victorian era scrapbooks

These scrapbooks illustrate the Victorian preoccupation with collecting and arranging pictures. They are thought to have been compiled between 1880 and 1890.

As well as amassing wealth and material goods, the Victorians were avid collectors and were eager to demonstrate their interest in culture, the natural sciences, literature or art through their collections, These ranged from pressed flowers to art prints, and from shells to insects. The most popular form of collecting was the creation …

Summary

Object No.

A7520

Object Statement

Scrapbooks (2), paper, maker unknown, place of production unknown, 1880-1890

Physical Description

The two scrap albums or scrapbooks feature covers with elaborately-embossed bindings. Inside are pages of colourful pictures, which have been commercially produced, embossed and die-cut, then glued onto the heavy pages. The pictures or 'scraps' are in most cases carefully arranged by themes including flowers, butterflies, baby farmyard animals, and well-dressed ladies and children. Some of the pictures are more exotic and include children in various national costumes, mounted cavalry, as well as humorous caricatures and the more sentimental elements such as white doves, angels and Christmas themes. A few of the pages have pressed and dried flowers and ferns and birthday cards with verses.

Source

Credit Line

Gift of Neville Williams, 1981

Acquisition Date

15 March 1981

Cite this Object

Harvard

Victorian era scrapbooks 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 25 March 2023, <https://ma.as/191815>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/191815 |title=Victorian era scrapbooks |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}