A MAID SERVING TEA IN THE GARDEN

This photograph tells a story and it is up to the viewer of the photograph to create the story. Not all viewers will create identical stories so the image is more like a Rorschach Test. The stories we originate tell us something about ourselves. Here is my story about this photograph. A young maid prepares to serve tea to the lady of the house. It is a beautiful day, so the  tea is served in the garden and the tables have been set with fine lace tablecloths. The garden is located behind a lovely house in the English countryside. Now, back to reality. The photographer of this image and the location of  his studio is unknown. The identity of the subject is also a mystery.

Published in: on June 20, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (7)  
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BEAUTIFUL BUSTY WOMAN IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

The Baker Art Gallery of Columbus, Ohio, produced this portrait of a pretty and busty young woman. A corset likely assists her wasp waist and lovely figure. Apparently, she is well aware of her beauty and capitalizes on it with a “come hither” expression. Take note of her interesting hat; its truly a work of art. The Cabinet Card Gallery has a number of images from the Baker Art Gallery. To view these images and to learn more about the Baker studio, click on the category “Photographer: Baker Art Gallery”.

 

Published in: on June 19, 2012 at 8:23 am  Comments (2)  
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PRETTY WOMAN INTERESTINGLY FRAMED IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

This cabinet card features a profile view of a beautifully dressed pretty woman. She is wearing a tennis racquet pin. The photographer of this image is J. W. Taylor of Rochester, New York. He framed the photograph in an interesting manner. The shape of the frame could be described as a scalloped rectangle. I have observed several cabinet card portraits framed similarly except the frame was shaped like a scalloped leaf. A photograph by J. W. Taylor appears in Wilson’s Photographic Magazine (1900). The photograph was featured as a good example of excellent portraiture. The subject of that photograph was “Jack Turner” who was described as “an English ex-pugilist of note”. To view other photographs by Taylor, click on the category “Photographer: Taylor JW”.

Published in: on June 17, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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ADORABLE BROTHER AND SISTER PORTRAIT IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

This photograph features a portrait of two siblings posing in Hartford, Connecticut. The studio that produced this image was Wise, Smith, and Company. The printing on the bottom of the image list L. E. Taylor as the studio artist. This photograph is a striking portrait. The children are adorable and beautifully dressed. The image is amazingly clear. The previous owner of the photograph suggested that the children appear to be of Latin origin, though that is certainly an impression and not to be taken factually. Research online (in the Hog River Journal) found a 1914 photograph of the Hartford Theatre which was formerly the Wise Smith Building. One may conjecture that the building was the home of the Wise Smith Gallery. The article reports that the building was originally the Hartford Opera House where, among other productions,  Yiddish plays were performed. The building was also a stage theatre prior to and during the silent film era. The Wise and Smith gallery was listed in Hartford’s 1903 business directory.

Published in: on June 15, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN WEARING FUR COAT POSES FOR WALTER CHICKERING IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

A pretty young woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Walter E. Chickering in Boston, Massachusetts. The woman is wearing a winter coat which appears to be made from fur. Her sleeves are definitely fur trimmed. She is wearing gloves and a lovely hat. The subject of this portrait is unidentified. Walter E. Chickering was a well known Boston photographer. He was concerned about being confused with a photographer named Elmer Chickering, who also operated a studio in Boston. The reverse of this image has a printed advertisement describing Walter Chickering as “the original photographer of that name”. The ad is a bit grandiose in its description of Walter Chickering’s studio as being “mammoth” in size. To view other photographs by the Chickering (both Walter and Elmer), and to learn more about them,  click on the category “Photographer: Chickering, W.”.

Published in: on June 14, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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SWEET LITTLE GIRL AND HER FANCY DOLL IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

This cabinet card features a nicely dressed cute little girl posing with her large fancy doll. The curly haired girl is wearing plenty of lace and a necklace. Note how fashionably the doll is dressed. The photographer of this image is Henry Levin of Chicago, Illinois. The child’s last name  is identified as Werner on the reverse of the photograph. Her first name is illegible. The inscription states that the girl was two and half years old at the time of the photograph.

Published in: on June 13, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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BEARDED MAN WITH INTENSE EYES IN BELOIT, KANSAS

The subject of this cabinet card portrait is an intense looking man with piercing eyes. He has a handsome beard and wavy hair. He wore his fancy clothing for his encounter with the photographer. The photographer of this image is a studio called Dobler Brothers of Beloit, Kansas. C. W. Dobler (1860-?) is listed in the 1880 census as a 20 year-old photographer living with his sister and brother-in-law. His brother-in-law, Frank Dawson, was 26 years old and also worked as a photographer. Directories show that by 1885, Dobler had married a woman named Sarah (age 22) and had a baby daughter named Pearl (age 1). The city of Beloit was settled in 1868 with the aim of improving water power in the area. Legend has it that local Native Americans advised the settlers to locate the town at a certain bend of the Solomon River to protect the town from tornadoes. The settlers followed their advice and the town has never been hit by a tornado while nearby areas have been less fortunate.

Published in: on June 12, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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FASHIONABLE TEENAGE GIRL IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

A young woman poses for her portrait at the Bostnick studio. Printing on the reverse of the photograph indicates that the studio was located at 98 Sixth Avenue, between 8th and 9th Streets in New York City, New York. The subject appears to be a teenager. She is dressed fashionably and wearing a collar broach, earrings, and a ring. No biographical information about photographer Bostnick could be located.    SOLD

Published in: on June 9, 2012 at 8:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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THE POWER OF BEAUTY SEEN IN PORTRAIT OF GERMAN ACTRESS

A pretty young woman is the subject of this cabinet card. She is posed in a provocative manner, relative to the time of this photograph. She is likely a German actress/model. The previous owner of this cabinet card translated the German text below the image as stating “I know my power over men’s hearts”. Printing on the reverse of the photograph identifies the photographer as S. B. Farren and Son. The image is identified as number 233 of a series. Farren may be the photographer of this cabinet card but it is also possible that he purchased it from the original photographer and sold it to collectors from his studio.  SOLD

Published in: on June 8, 2012 at 10:25 pm  Comments (1)  
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MOTHER AND TWO DAUGHTERS EXPERIENCE A BAD HAIR DAY IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

A mother and her two long haired daughters pose for their portrait at the studio of E. J. Davis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The young girls don’t just have long hair, they have long frizzy hair. Are they having a bad hair day? One can only guess what the girls thought about their hair before they sat for this photograph. What do you think about the dynamics between the family members in this portrait? It appears to me that this is one very detached family. The lack of connection between mother, older daughter, and younger daughter is striking. All three individuals appear to be very much in their own world. Little information could be found about photographer E. J. Davis. The only information uncovered concerning Davis, was an ad he placed in a photography journal, Snap Shots (1908). The ad listed some of his photography equipment for sale. The subjects of this photograph are not identified.  SOLD

Published in: on June 5, 2012 at 11:08 pm  Comments (1)  
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