A well dressed man poses for his portrait at the studio of Charles Keeping in Exeter, England. The subjects beard looks remarkably similar to a Brillo pad. Pity his poor wife during their amorous times together. The photographer, Charles Keeping (1842-?) was born at Lymington in Hampshire. He first worked as a photographer in Exeter in about 1870.He set up a studio at New Bridge Street after moving to Exeter from Torquay between 1867 and 1870. The studio moved to the address listed on this cabinet card (1, Exe Bridge) in 1873. Keeping also had a number of branch studios. In the mid to late 1880’s the business was known as the “Exonia Studio”. The available history indicates that this image was produced between 1873 and the late 1880’s. The subjects steel wool type beard is his ticket to enter the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Beards (Only the Best). Click on the category to see an amazing collection of unusual and interesting beards.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 