Paper Calling Card Holder

This month's feature is a paper wall hanging used to collect calling cards. It is numbered in the museum collection as #1994.006.B. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, common etiquette in England, Europe, and the United States required gentlemen to carry calling cards, for when they visited or 'called upon' another person. Women also had calling cards, but the rules and exchange for their cards were structured around strict socialization routines. General etiquette prioritized plainer cards in the early days of their use, with elaborate styles frowned upon. The advancements in printing technology, however, shifted designs to favor elaborate, colorful designs. Historically, households would have had a plate or bowl near the door or in a common room to collect calling cards, often made of metal, porcelain, or glass. Upper-class women were expected to deliver and receive cards for their households during formally defined times, while men, with greater social mobility, always carried their cards on hand. 

Our wall hanging is a lattice design with two birds in the center and a small box at the bottom for holding calling cards. It is made of thick paper, comparable to modern cardboard or heavy card stock. It was produced in Germany in the 1920's and purchased by the museum for $10 from Sue's Antique Emporium at Atlanta's Lakewood Antiques Faire (now Lakewood Antique Market) in the early 1990's. The hanging would have been placed near the front door, and being made of paper, would have been much more accessible to lower class families. Printing technology in Germany at the time was also farther ahead, allowing for the mass production of ephemera with vibrant colors and complex design. The design in the paper here is a combination of embossing and die-cutting; the level of detail on the embossed birds is so high that feather textures are visible.  

We hope that you enjoyed this peek at our collection! We'll be back next month with another artifact. Have a great December!