Karina. She was celebrity enough to use only her first name. More modern performers who are recognized by just one name include Elvis, Madonna, and Adele. Who was Karina? As the caption on the postcard asserts, Karina was the premiere dancer at the Royal Opera House and the founder of Madame Karina’s Royal School of Dancing. The school was under the patronage of Queen Alexandra (of Denmark). The Queen was a staunch supporter of the opera ballet from 1913 through the 1920’s. Karina was Danish and active in the 1910’s and 1920’s. Two portraits of Karina can be found in Great Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. The photograph seen on this postcard was taken by the esteemed studio of Elliott & Fry. This Victorian photographic studio and photographic film manufacturer was founded in 1863 by Joseph John Elliott and Clarence Edmund Fry. For an entire century the studio took and published images of leading Victorian luminaries from the fields of science, public service, art, politics, as well as celebrities of the day. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 