YOUNG MAN WITH A HANDLE BAR MUSTACHE AND A TONSORIAL CRISIS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

This cabinet card portrait features a dapper young man with a handlebar mustache. Unfortunately, the handlebar needs alignment; one tip points down, while the other seems to have fallen creating a tonsorial crisis. Note the width of the gentleman’s necktie.This photograph was taken by Urlin & Pfeifer’s Mammoth Art Palace in Columbus, Ohio. Urlin and Pfeiffer are no strangers to the Cabinet Card Gallery. The gallery has photographs by Urlin and Pfeifer as individual gallery owners; as  well as multiple images taken during their partnership.  John A. Pfeifer (1859-1932) was active in the Columbus area from 1882 to at least 1913. For much of that time, he was partners with George C. Urlin (1854-1942). Urlin was active in Columbus between 1873 and 1887. The reverse of this cabinet card offers an interesting back stamp that highlights some of the medals the pair received for their photographic work. The latest date noted on these medals is 1887, which reveals that this cabinet card was photographed sometime during or after 1887. The advertising also notes that the firm was established in 1873. 

Published in: on January 23, 2018 at 3:05 pm  Comments (4)  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ADORABLE STUDIOUS YOUNG GIRL IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

This wonderful cabinet card portrait captures an adorable young girl sitting at a table with an open book in front of her. She is looking toward the camera and displaying a serious gaze. She is wearing a dress that has lace at the end of her sleeves and around her collar. This photograph was taken at the Urlin and Pfeifer studio which was located in Columbus, Ohio. The cabinet card gallery has photographs by each of these photographers that were taken when they were working independently. John A. Pfeifer (1859-1932) was active in the Columbus area from 1882 to at least 1913. For much of that time, he was partners with George C. Urlin (1854-1942). Their firm was the class photographer of Oberlin College in 1888. Urlin was active in Columbus between 1873 and 1887. The reverse of this cabinet card offers an interesting back stamp. Note the etching of the Urlin & Pfeifer storefront. Behind the gallery’s windows there is a display of  framed photographs. Also on the reverse of the photograph is advertising boasting that the studio had won 47 “Medals and Highest Awards”. One of these medals was issued in 1885 which is about the time that this cabinet card was produced.   SOLD

Published in: on April 8, 2017 at 1:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
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YOUNG WELL DRESSED AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

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A well dressed African American man poses for his portrait at the J. A. Pfeifer & Company gallery. He is wearing a dress jacket, a pin striped vest, winged collar and bow tie. This handsome young man is unidentified. The reverse of the cabinet card lists Pfeifer’s name but also the names Smith and Mulligan Brothers. Presumably these three names belong to photographers who were employed the the Pfeifer studio. The address of the gallery is also printed on the reverse of the card. The business was located at 262, 264, and 266 South High Street in Columbus, Ohio. According to the book “Artists in Ohio” (2000), the photographer of this image, John A. Pfeifer (1859-1932), was active in the Columbus area from 1882 to at least 1913. During much of that time, he was partners with George C. Urlin of  the “Mammoth Art Palace” on High Street. To view images by Urlin, click on the category “Photographer: Urlin”. The Oberlin Review (1888) noted that the Urlin & Pfeifer studio won the contract to be the class of 1888’s photographer. A competitor in the bidding was the Cleveland firm of Urlin & Becker. Urlin’s participation in the bidding under two different studios, caused the students to raise some ethical questions about the bidding process. Pfeifer proved to the students that he had the legal right to use Urlin’s name and the class “was convinced of his honesty and integrity” and retained him as class photographer. In 1891 Pfeifer and George D. Saas (1854-1924) founded Pfeifer & Saas Printers. In 1905 Pfeifer became the sole owner of the firm and renamed it the Pfeifer Show Print Company.

Published in: on December 13, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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