Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Spring Photographic History Auction

Sat, May 3, 2025 01:00PM EDT
  2025-05-03 13:00:00 2025-05-03 13:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : Spring Photographic History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/spring-photographic-history-auction-19217
Raw, rare, and unforgettable—this is 19th- and early 20th-century photography at its best. Vernacular portraits, Native American warriors, African American resilience, Mormon pioneers, Western frontier families, and stark post-mortem scenes. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards that capture real life without filters. Every image tells a story of survival, pride, and change. A museum-worthy collection for those who know real American history when they see it.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 115

Group of Four Tintypes of Men with Their Dogs

Estimate: $200 - $300
Starting Bid
$100

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Unusual and character-rich group of four CDV-sized tintypes, each capturing a different man with his beloved dog, spanning a variety of vernacular studio and outdoor settings. The photographs offer an engaging visual survey of men and their canine companions during the 19th century, each portrait rendered with a sense of quiet dignity and occasional whimsy.

One image shows a gentleman in a straw hat seated in a basic studio setup, his large black dog at his side, both gazing toward the camera with relaxed familiarity. Another features a stylishly dressed African American man posed with a small terrier-type dog perched confidently on a studio stool beside him, in front of a painted backdrop of an imaginary river city—a visually rich and highly unusual composition. A third tintype, taken outdoors, presents a man in a vest and bowtie with his small dog outfitted in a coat, sitting contentedly in his lap. The fourth image, with its ornate interior setting and elaborate studio props, shows a man standing formally with a pug-like companion cradled under one arm and an umbrella in his other hand.

Each tintype displays sharp detail and strong tonal contrast, capturing the texture of clothing, fur, and facial expression. The group offers an affectionate and humanizing look at pet ownership and male identity in the late 19th century, well beyond the typical formality of portraiture from the era. A highly desirable lot for collectors of vernacular photography, early animal images, and visual Americana.

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