Lot 156: Two George III paper-cut valentines, framed, circa 1810 Attributed to Elizabeth Cobbold, Ipswich (1764-1824)

Two George III paper-cut valentines, framed, circa 1810
Attributed to Elizabeth Cobbold, Ipswich (1764-1824)One designed with an angel, blowing a trumpet with a King of Hearts playing-card banner, the other a three masted ship, both inscribed with handwritten verse, and in a maple frame with giltwood slip, glazed, 31.5cm x 27cm (2)

Elizabeth Cobbold née Knipe (1764-1824) was known for her interests in the fields of literature, arts and science but is best remembered for her paper-cut Valentines. In 1806 Elizabeth and her husband, John Cobbold (1745-1835), hosted the first of their St Valentine's Day Balls, which were to become a mainstay of the local social calendar for the next twenty years. Elizabeth made papercut Valentines for unmarried guests. They were cut from a doubled piece of paper to create two copies. At the end of the Ball, all the ones for ladies were put in one hat and all the ones for gentlemen were put in another. Each person drew out a picture and the pair who drew the same picture were officially a St. Valentine's couple, simply decided by fate.A collection of Elizabeth's paper-cut valentines where exhibited at The Cobbold Family History Trust's Exhibition, Glemham Hall, Suffolk, in 2008.