Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Spring Photographic History Auction

Sat, May 3, 2025 01:00PM EDT
Lot 226

CDV Arctic Explorer in Full Cold-Weather Gear with Skis and Rifle

Estimate: $200 - $400

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000

Exceptional CDV of a man dressed in heavy arctic winter attire, standing confidently on a pair of primitive wooden skis with a single pole in hand. He wears a thick fur coat with intricate trim, high fur-lined boots, and a towering fur hat, giving him the striking appearance of a 19th-century polar explorer or ethnographic subject. A rifle is slung over his shoulder.

This studio portrait captures not only the texture and layering of the outfit but also a clear sense of cultural or expeditionary purpose. The rustic skis and utilitarian clothing suggest this may depict a Alaskan or Russian figure, possibly tied to exploration, reindeer herding, or ethnographic exhibition.

Highly unusual and visually gripping, this CDV stands out as a rare example of arctic subject matter in 19th-century photography.

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