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 304

Cabinet Card, Two Young Women, Wilke, Chicago, 1889

Estimate: $50 - $100
Current Bid
$25

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 are portrayed in a close bust-length vignette within an oval, palette shaped image window on this cabinet card produced by Wilke, Artistic Photographer, 393 Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, dated 1889 on the reverse. The cream mount features deeply embossed decorative surrounds incorporating an artist's palette and brushes, cattail stalks, floral sprigs, and scrollwork, with a scalloped edge border on all sides. The reverse carries the full studio imprint within an elaborate printed frame and notes that negatives were preserved for future orders and could be reduced for lockets or enlarged to life size in crayon, ink, or watercolor.

Both women wear dark pleated bodices with wide lace-trimmed collars standing high at the throat, their dark curly hair dressed close to the head in the style of the late 1880s. The woman at left rests her head slightly toward the center, a small brooch visible at her collar. The woman at right wears a delicate chain necklace and her expression is composed and direct.

The "Extra Finish" designation printed on the front mount alongside the studio name was a quality tier designation used by Chicago studios of the period to indicate an enhanced surface treatment on the photographic print, typically a smoother, more refined albumen surface marketed as a premium product.

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