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 297

Cabinet Card, Two Women with Floral Tributes, Unmarked

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
Two young women in white dresses stand flanking a round pedestal table piled with floral baskets in this full-length studio portrait, the floor before them densely covered with additional bouquets, flower arrangements, baskets, and wrapped gift boxes extending nearly to the lower mount edge. No studio imprint appears on the front or reverse. The reverse bears the penciled inscription "Anna Van Buren" and the numeral "3" at the top center.

Both women wear high-necked white gowns with puffed sleeves and floral corsages at the bodice, their dark hair worn up in the close-dressed style of the early 1890s. The woman at right holds the handle of a large flower basket with a wide white ribbon bow, her other hand resting at her side. At least a dozen individual bouquets, multiple wicker baskets filled with flowers, and several bound volumes and small gift boxes are arranged across the table and floor. Tags or cards are visible attached to several of the arrangements. A studio bookcase with framed photographs is partially visible at the right, and a draped curtain and painted cornice backdrop fill the background.

The extraordinary accumulation of floral tributes and gifts is consistent with a recital, theatrical performance, or graduation portrait in which a subject was photographed with the tributes she received on a significant occasion, a practice documented in American studio photography of the 1880s and 1890s. Whether the inscription "Anna Van Buren" identifies one of the two women pictured or a former owner of the card cannot be confirmed from the available evidence.

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