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 182

Cabinet Card, Native American Man with Four Unidentified Men

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
Five men stand in a full-length group portrait printed within an oval vignette on a cabinet card mount, almost certainly dating to the 1870s based on the format and mount style. The central figure is a Native American man whose dress and appearance set him distinctly apart from his four companions, all of whom wear conventional Victorian-era suits. No photographer's imprint appears on the reverse, and the subjects remain unidentified beyond the seller's notation.

The central man wears a dark vest over a loose white shirt, light-colored fringed leggings, and moccasins, with a vivid magenta or crimson hand-colored sash draped diagonally across his chest and torso, the only applied color in the image. The four surrounding men wear dark frock coats or sack suits, bow ties, and waistcoats, and three of the four carry full beards. Their postures are formal and erect, with hands held at their sides or clasped in front.

Hand-applied color on a single garment within an otherwise albumen print is an uncommon and deliberate choice, suggesting the sash carried specific significance either to the subject or to whoever commissioned the photograph. The oval vignette format and mount weight are consistent with commercial studio production of the post-Civil War frontier era.

The reverse is blank with no photographer's imprint, inscription, or printed text visible.

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