Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 464

Cabinet Card, Boy in Pierrot Costume, Hanz, Brussels

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
A young boy dressed in a complete Pierrot costume stands in full-length view in this cabinet card made by Hanz of Brussels, whose studio imprint appears in gilt script at lower left alongside the address 38, Rue de l'Ecuyer. The albumen print dates to the late nineteenth century and presents a carefully arranged studio portrait against a painted backdrop depicting a winter landscape with bare trees and a fence line.

The costume is complete and closely observed: a loose white blouse trimmed with dark horizontal stripes at the hem and cuffs, large round buttons running down the front, a deeply ruffled white collar at the neck, matching white trousers with striped anklets, and white shoes. A tall conical Pierrot hat with a dark finial and striped brim rises prominently above the boy's head. He leans with one hand resting on a carved wooden studio prop table, his gaze directed to the right of the camera.

Pierrot, the melancholy white-clad clown derived from the Italian commedia dell'arte tradition, became one of the most popular fancy dress and carnival characters in late nineteenth-century Belgium and France, appearing widely in children's portrait photography of the period. The studio prop, painted backdrop, and quality of the mount suggest a professional commission, likely for a carnival or fête occasion.

The mount is black with gilt beveled edges. The photographer's name appears in gilt script at lower left, with "BRUXELLES / 38, Rue de l'Ecuyer" printed in serif type at lower right.

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