Postcard — Au clair de lune!, France, ca. 1904
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1904
Postcard in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number E.524:478-2001), made in France, dated ca. 1904, attributed to Sager, Xavier. The museum's brief description reads: Postcard, Milford Haven Collection, by Xavier Sager, "Au clair de lune", naked woman seated on a chamber pot in front of window with full moon shining, French, ca.1904.
Museum description: A postcard depicting a nude woman sitting on her chamber pot in front of the open window of her apartment. A man, standing on the balcony across the street throws up his arms gratefully at the full moon which is shining directly on the woman's window. The museum records it as Lineblock print, measuring Height 13.6 cm; Width 21 cm; Depth 5.5 cm; Height 9 cm; Width 14 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The Milford Haven Collection consists of 442 specimans of French, Italian and German erotic postcards of considerable interest including a number of rare movable cards, all dating from the early years of the twentieth century. The collection illustrates with great clarity the various styles particular to each region. The cards have been arranged in three albums, according to the subject matter with which they deal, highlighting the original collector's strong interest in scatological subjects.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Lineblock print
- Dimensions
- Height 13.6 cm; Width 21 cm; Depth 5.5 cm; Height 9 cm; Width 14 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Lineblock print
- Maker recorded
- Sager, Xavier
- Place recorded
- France
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- 'SECTIONS 7 8 10 11 12 / Post Cards / The Milford Haven Collection / of / Post Cards. / Numbers 323 - 326 / " 336 - 340 / " 420 - 441 / " 453 - 504 / " 508 - 515'; 'Au clair de lune ! / At the moon light !'
Identification
- Museum object name
- Postcard
- Museum object number
- E.524:478-2001
- Museum system number
- O59885
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.