A brief history of Victorian Christmas cards
A brief history of Victorian Christmas cards
From robins and Father Christmas, to talking vegetables and clowns
Christmas
From our wacky and wonderful collections of Victorian Christmas cards and biscuit tins, to stylish Barbie and Sindy dolls, uncover the magic of Christmas with our festive highlights.
Collection highlights
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Toy Olaf from the opening scene of Frozen the Musical, designed by Christopher Oram, created by Young Anna and Young Elsa. -
Pantomime cow's head costume, by S.B Watts & Co. Ltd., 1989, Manchester, England. Museum no. S.483&A to C-1990. -
Poster advertising the Grand Christmas Pantomime at the Surrey Theatre, 1878, Britain. Museum no. S.16-2010. -
Christmas pudding plate, designed by Eric Ravilious, manufactured by Wedgwood, 1938, England. Museum no. CIRC.309-1961. -
Christmas decorations, Krebsglas, about 1990, Lauscha, Germany. Museum no. C.334-1993. -
Christmas card, late 19th century, England. Museum no. E.378-1971. -
Christmas pyramid, 1960s, Germany. Museum no. MISC.683&1 to 29-1988. -
Greetings card (inside), designed by Beatrix Potter, Hildesheimer and Faulkner, 1890, colour lithograph. Linder Bequest BP.565(a). -
Christmas Cake for Children, tin, made for W & R Jacob and Co., 1936, England. Museum no. M.487&A-1983. -
Mechanical toy turkey, by Blomer and Schüler, 1948 – 1952, Germany. Museum no. MISC.25-1978. -
Mechanical reindeer, 1975 – 79, China. Museum no. B.138-1996. -
Cup, by Georg Rühl, 1598 – 1602, Nuremberg, Germany. Museum no. LOAN:GILBERT.60:1,2-2008. -
Mistletoe brooch, by George Fouquet, about 1903, Paris, France. Museum no. M.19-1979.
Features
Unboxing Christmas baubles
Unboxing Christmas baubles
Watch as we take a look at a selection of delicate Christmas baubles from Germany
Biscuit tins – a bite-sized history
Biscuit tins – a bite-sized history
Novelty biscuit tins in all shapes and sizes
The Christmas cracker
The Christmas cracker
This popular paper novelty was invented by an enterprising East-End baker, Tom Smith, over 150 years ago
Make your own V&A-inspired Christmas tree decoration
Make your own V&A-inspired Christmas tree decoration
Create something new for your tree this Christmas
Victorian Christmas traditions
Victorian Christmas traditions
The Victorians created Christmas as we know it – from Christmas cards and crackers to the decorated Christmas tree
Make a Beatrix Potter Christmas card
Make a Beatrix Potter Christmas card
Spread some festive joy this season by downloading our free template to create your very own Beatrix Potter Christmas card
The story of pantomime
The story of pantomime
The familiar trappings of the classic British panto owe much to the innovations of Victorian entrepreneurs, performers and designers
Christmas tree installations
Christmas tree installations
Relive the magic of V&A Christmas tree installations
The Christmas story in opus anglicanum
The Christmas story in opus anglicanum
Christmas imagery appears throughout medieval art and particularly on richly-worked and intricate English medieval embroidered textiles, known as opus anglicanum
Make your own V&A inspired Christmas crackers
Make your own V&A inspired Christmas crackers
Have a go at crafting your own crackers this Christmas
Make your own V&A inspired wrapping paper
Make your own V&A inspired wrapping paper
Get creative and print your own wrapping paper
The first Christmas card
The first Christmas card
The very first Christmas card was designed for the V&A's founding director, Henry Cole
Sacred stained glass
Sacred stained glass
Like huge and colourful picture storybooks, stained glass has been used to spread messages for centuries
Laying a wacky and whimsical Christmas table
Laying a wacky and whimsical Christmas table
How wacky is your Christmas table? Discover some of our favourite festive fare, with a twist
Header image:
Mechanical train, by unknown manufacturer, 1975 – 79, China. Museum no. B.154-1996. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London