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 176

Post Mortem Tintype of a Young Child

Estimate: $200 - $300
Starting Bid
$100

Bid Increments

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Poignant and tender quarter plate tintype depicting a post mortem portrait of a young child, carefully posed in peaceful repose. The child is laid on a simple bed or bier, with hands gently folded and a faint curl visible on the forehead. The image captures the quiet stillness and profound loss associated with Victorian mourning practices, when families often turned to photography to preserve the memory of a loved one lost too soon.

The tintype is housed in its original stamped brass mat with rich floral and scroll detailing. The plate exhibits moderate surface wear and a few light abrasions, but the image retains strong clarity and presence. The horizontal format and larger quarter plate size enhance the intimacy and emotional weight of the composition.

Post mortem tintypes of this size and condition are increasingly uncommon and remain among the most affecting and historically rich genres of early photography. A significant addition to collections focused on mourning culture, vernacular photography, or 19th-century memorial practices.

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