TWO WOMEN AND THEIR BOOKS IN WEST SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN (WINTER SCENE)

Two women dressed in winter coats pose for their portrait at Boyer Brothers studio in West Superior, Wisconsin. They appear well prepared for the winter scene that is hanging behind them. Both women are holding books in their arms. Unlike most subjects appearing in cabinet cards, these two ladies are smiling. The Boyer Brothers include Hans R. Boyer, Henry Boyer, and Robert H. Boyer. The brothers worked in various combinations and in a number of partnerships in Superior, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota. They were associated with studios from the 1880s through the 1910’s.

Published in: on June 21, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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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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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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WOMAN MODELS REPTILIAN WEAR IN PENACOOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Most people don’t think of Penacook, New Hampshire as the center of turn of the century fashion. However, in 1890, a new fashion trend was born in tiny Penacook. Traditional fashion centers like Paris and New York City were blindsided by the innovative dress designs coming out of Penacook. Reptilian Wear was introduced in 1890 and was overwhelmingly the most well received of all these designs. Penacook area photographers quickly were called upon to sharpen their skills in fashion photography because their services were in high demand by the rapidly growing local clothing industry. This cabinet card was produced by the studio of M. S. Lamprey who began operating in Penacook in 1858. The woman in this image is wearing an excellent example of a Reptilian Wear dress. This particular dress was sold under the Iguana label. The model in this photograph was not identified. She is wearing a necklace from which hangs a cross. If you doubt the veracity of this story; you would be correct to do so. Here is some non fiction commentary about this cabinet card. The photographer is Maurice S. Lamprey (1835-1912). The 1860 census finds Lamprey living with his parents and siblings and working as a varnisher. He enlisted in the 10th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in 1862 as a private and was transferred to the Signal Corp which is where he remained throughout the war. The earliest city directory found that lists him as a photographer was from 1872. The 1900 US census reports that Lamprey was 64 years old, living alone, and working as a photographer in  Concord. The town of Penacook was named after the Penacook Native American tribe which lived in the area. The town was a village located within the city of  Concord. Penacook was involved in the textile industry. The town was located along the Contoocook River. This location attracted the hydro power industry and Penacook became a mill town.

Published in: on May 30, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF IDA PEASE IN BLISSFIELD, MICHIGAN (1885)

This cabinet card portrait features an attractive woman named Ida Pease. At the time of the photograph, she was seventeen years old. She was photographed by Dorus Griffeth Freeman (1848-1936) of Blissfield, Michigan. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates the subject’s name and the date of the photograph (1885). Ms. Pease is wearing dark clothing and her top appears to be velvet. She is wearing a bracelet and a collar pin. Her beautiful figure gets an assist from a corset. Research reveals that Ida Pease was born in 1868 in Michigan. According to the 1880 U.S. census, she was the daughter of Seth and Esther Pease who were both born in New York. At the time of the census, she was 12 years old and her father was working as a farmer. Her brother Richard (age 18) also lived in the household.  (SOLD)

Published in: on April 8, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN FROM DARMSTADT, GERMANY

The woman in this photograph is absolutely beautiful. She is also elegant and stylish. She is wearing a pretty boa and hat. The photographer of this image is Hofmann & Company. The studio was located in Darmstadt, Germany. Darmstadt is in the city of Hesse, which is a little south of  Frankfurt. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph has the subject’s name and the date of the photograph. The name of  this pretty fraulein is illegible but it is clear that the photograph was taken in 1905.

Published in: on March 24, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WITH BIG BUTTONS IN CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS

A very pretty woman with big dreamy eyes and dark hair poses for her portrait at the  McKnight studio, in Centrailia, Illinois. The woman is wearing a dress that has four very large buttons at its top and smaller buttons below. The large and small buttons appear to be identical except for size. The decorative buttons show grapes or berries. The woman is also wearing a flower and earrings, as well as a pin at her collar. The pin features the letter “H”, which may be the first letter of her first or last name. The photographer of this image may be Frank McKnight or P. McKnight. Both of these individuals are listed in a directory of Illinois photographers as operating studios in Centralia during the cabinet card era. This photograph has a crossed out location on the bottom of the image. It is probable that the photographer formerly owned a studio in Missouri and moved to Illinois but kept his stock of pre-printed paper. Although it is easy to decipher the state, the town is blacked out beyond the point of recognition.

Published in: on March 9, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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PRETTY WOMAN STANDS BY PLANTS IN BOSTON

A pretty woman stands among some plants at the photographic studio of Patten, Perkins and Stratton in Boston, Massachusetts. The studio was located at 47 Hanover Street in Boston. The woman is wearing a pretty hat and a large bow on her blouse. She is wearing a pattern dress and a collar pin. Note the woman’s fingerless gloves.

Published in: on March 8, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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