Germany, Imperial. A Masonic Organization Dance Card, c.1869
A dance card constructed of cardstock covered in red and black velvet in the shape of a shield. The obverse bears a flap in the shape of a shield in black velvet with a bronze coloured metal border and diagonal stripe inscribed with “1869”, the flap flips upwards and reveals the dance card in white with gilt writing, titled “BALL deutscher studenten” (German Student Ball) and some of the dances are pencilled in with names. This is bordered with red velvet. The reverse bears a black velvet centre with a bronzed metal emblem bearing an owl on a book, a fasces and a sceptre with a snake crossed and topped with a set triangle, and a grid on a tripod. The top is constructed of a small wooden stick covered in the same red velvet material with ball finials (missing on the left side), with a gilded metal thread tassel. Hung from a short chain on a circular loop with a hook, measuring 66.80 mm (w) x 64.21 mm (h), very fine.

