Likely from Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1828, watercolor and "scherenschnitte" cutwork composition with pinhole piercing, an eight-sided form with various motifs of endearment including hearts, figures, birds, and stars; the hearts inscribed with ink in German, monogrammed "HDK" and dated at the inner hexagon, mounted in a frame under glass.

Sheet 13 1/4 in. dia.; Frame dimensions 17 1/4 x 17 1/4 in.

The distinctive nature of fraktur artworks served as personal or family documents that helped their owners preserve their Germanic identity in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Germans were early adopters of celebrating Valentine’s Day. Customs included drawing lots (or names written on small slips of paper), the name pulled becoming one's valentine for the day. Similar examples of Pennsylvania fraktur and cutwork valentines can be found in the collections of the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, the Winterthur Museum, and other museum collections.

Toning and minor spotting to the sheet, some light wear to paper and unintentional creasing.