CLASS PICTURE FROM THE AVONDALE SCHOOL IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA (1898)

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This vintage photograph is a class portrait of children from the Avondale School in Nova Scotia, Canada. The image has unusually great clarity. I suggest that the viewer magnifies the image and carefully look at the children’s expressions, their hairstyles,  and at their attire. This photograph really gives the observer an up close look at turn of the century school children. Note the two boys at the end of the first row. They are holding up signs identifying their school and the date (1898). The teacher sits in a chair, hands on his lap, and looking relaxed. I wonder how common male school teachers were during this era. Two of the girls are wearing identical dresses (same pattern). My guess is that they are sisters and their mother made the dresses. This is an exceptional example of a more than a century old class picture.

Published in: on January 24, 2015 at 11:41 am  Comments (4)  
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DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY SITS ON THE FRONT STEPS OF A HOUSE IN LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK (1887)

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A family therapist might find it interesting to analyze this portrait of three women and a man sitting on the front porch of a house in Lake Placid, New York. The therapist might note that three of the subjects are looking off in one direction while the young woman (sitting the closest to the bottom) is staring in the opposite direction. What is going on with this young lady? Not only is she oppositional but she is displaying horrible posture (slouching), and a “bored out of her mind” expression. The gentleman in this image is also exhibiting an interesting expression. He looks like the cat that ate the canary as he flashes a mischievous grin. He is holding a book/magazine. Perhaps the reading material is humorous. The four individuals in this photograph seem totally disconnected from each other. If the four subjects comprise a family, than they seem to be lacking warmth and a sense of being a cohesive unit. This photograph has an inscription on the reverse side. The inscription states “The Westside, Lake Placid, 1887”. The name of the photographer can be found embossed on the lower left hand corner of the image. His name is listed as “H. T. Hull, Amateur”. The word amateur appears so that viewers of the image would know that the photograph was not taken by a professional photographer. When photography became available to non professionals, there would be competitions held for amateurs so they could have places to exhibit their best photographs. This photograph measures 8 1/4″ x 6 1/4″.

Published in: on January 23, 2015 at 12:03 pm  Comments (8)  
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THREE ADORABLE YOUNG SISTERS AND THEIR DOG IN MITTWEIDA, GERMANY

 

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This cabinet card features a portrait of three adorable young sisters and their cute little dog. The girls may have been posing for this photograph for awhile and at least two of the siblings seem to have lost their patience. The youngest child, appears to be near tears or actually in tears. The oldest girl is rolling her eyes at the photographer while the middle child appears relatively nonplussed. The children are wearing cute identical dresses. The photographer of this image is Richard Brand and he operated a studio in Mittweida, Germany. To view other images by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Brand”.

Published in: on January 22, 2015 at 2:15 pm  Leave a Comment  
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COUPLE DRESSED AS RAJA AND GYPSY FOR “FANCY DRESS BALL” (INDIA 1894)

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This cabinet card offers a fascinating portrait of a couple dressed for a costume party occurring in India. The couple are either in the country on holiday or perhaps the man is assigned to work there by his government. Inscriptions on the reverse of the photograph provide some explanatory information about the image. The photograph was taken 9/24/1894. The couple is wearing the costumes that they wore to a “Fancy dress ball” that was held on 9/20/1894. The gentleman is dressed as a Raja while the woman is dressed a a gypsy. She is holding a tambourine. This photograph was taken by a well know Indian studio. Theodore Julius Hoffmann and P. A. Johnston established a commercial photography studio in Calcutta (1882) and Darjeeling (1890). They also operated a studio in Simla. Johnston and Hoffmann’s photography business was the second largest commercial photography studio in India in that period. Many of their images were of North and Northeast India as well as Sikkim and Nepal. To view other photographs this pair of photographers, click on the category “Photographer: Johnston and Hoffmann”.  (SOLD)

Published in: on January 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF MOTHER AND YOUNG DAUGHTER AND PHOTO ALBUM IN COLUMBIANA, OHIO

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A mother and young daughter pose for their portait at the the J. M. Webb studio in Columbiana, Ohio. The daughter is cute and she has one hand affectionately placed on her mother’s shoulder and her other hand on a thick photographic album. Note the girl’s long frizzy hair. The photographer of this image is John M. Webb (1850-1942). He was born in Greenford, Ohio. He took over his father’s (George G. Webb) photography business and operated it from 1884 to at least 1900.  SOLD

Published in: on January 18, 2015 at 9:04 am  Comments (2)  
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THE ROTHSCHILD PARK TROLLEY AND TWO CONDUCTORS IN WAUSAU, WISCONSIN

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This wonderful vintage photograph gives us a view of an important mode of transportation in America’s past. The Rothschild Park trolley was operated by the Wausaw Electric Railway. This photograph features a trolley car and two uniformed conductors. In 1906 the Wausau Street Railway Company was organized to bring electric transportation to Wausau. Sometime around 1915 the railway became the Wisconsin Valley Merrill Railway and Lighting Company. Note the sign stating “Rothschild Park” on the front of the trolley car. The story of Rothschild Park is quite interesting. The park was located, unsurprisingly, in Rothschild, Wisconsin which was about six miles from Wausau. Rothschild Park was owned by the Wausau Electric Railway and must have been quite a fun place to visit. The park offered 40 acres of water, islands and land. Attractions included a roller coaster, dance floor, catering hall, and more. In 1912 it cost ten cents to get to the park from Wausau. The photographer of this terrific image is unknown.  (SOLD)

Published in: on January 12, 2015 at 11:58 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF CARDINAL HENRY EDWARD MANNING IN LONDON, ENGLAND

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This cabinet card features a portrait of Cardinal Henry Edward Manning (1808-1892). He was the English Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and a Cardinal. His father was a West India merchant and served as a governor of the Bank of England and also served in the Parliament for thirty years. Manning was highly educated and at one time considered a career in politics. However, he pursued a religious profession with the Anglican Church. In 1851 he left the Anglican Church to join the Catholic Church. He became influential is charting the course of the modern Catholic church. He had an excellent relationship with Pope Pius IX. Cardinal Manning is interred at the Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Manning was photographed for this portrait by the Elliott & Fry studio in London, England. The studio was well known for photographing Royalty, Celebrities, and other important people of the time. To view more photographs from this studio and to learn more about the photographers, click on the category “Photographer: Elliott & Fry”.

Published in: on January 10, 2015 at 12:15 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FAMILY PORTRAIT OF YOUNG PARENTS AND TWO INFANTS IN HUDSON MASSACHUSETTS

hudsonThis cabinet card portrait captures a young family posing at the R. B. Lewis studio in Hudson, Massachusetts. Both mother and father are each holding one of their infants on their laps. Mom looks quite pretty in her striped blouse  and is wearing a long necklace and collar pin. Dad looks comfortable enough sitting in a somewhat ornate chair. To view other cabinet card photographs by R. B Lewis, click on the category “Photographer: Lewis”.   SOLD

 

Published in: on January 9, 2015 at 5:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FAMOUS NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN SCULPTOR: JAKOB FJELDE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (CABINET CARD PORTRAIT)

 

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This cabinet card portrait features famous Norwegian-American sculptor Jakob Fjelde (1855-1896). Fjelde is wearing an interesting overcoat with embroidery on it’s shoulders. Perhaps this is a coat that he wore while creating his sculpture. He has a attractive bushy mustache and is holding a half smoked cigar. Fjelde was born in Alesund, Norway and arrived in the United States in 1887. He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the father of sculptor Paul Fjelde and brother of artist Pauline Fjelde. Jakob was a prolific portraitist and created a number of public monuments. One of his most well known monuments was one dedicated to the 1st Minnesota Infantry (1897) that is located at the Gettysburg battlefield. Some of his statues in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area include “Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha”, “Minerva”, and “Ole Bull”. In 1885 he sculpted Henrik Ibsen from life and created a number of public statues and busts from the experience. The photographer of this image is the Lee Brothers who operated a studio in Minneapolis. To view more photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Lee Bros.”

 

Published in: on January 8, 2015 at 3:27 pm  Comments (1)  
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CUTE LITTLE GIRL WAITS FOR HER SHIP TO COME IN AT STUDIO IN WOLGAST, GERMANY

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This cabinet card portrait features a little girl, dressed in traditional costume, waiting at a faux dock for a ship to arrive. It will be a long wait because she is standing inside the studio of Hermann Sontag (Art Publisher) which had two location inside of Germany. He had galleries in the towns of Wolgast and Zinnowitz. I understand why the words “Kunst-Verlag”  (Art Publishing) is beside Mr. Sontag’s name. The backdrop in this portrait is masterful as is Sontag’s use of props (trunks and fishing nets). The child in this portrait is adorable. Note her interesting shoes and that she is holding a bouquet of flowers.

Published in: on January 6, 2015 at 12:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
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