Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 218

Tintype, Multigraph Portrait of Elderly Bearded Man, Quarter Plate

Estimate: $500 - $700

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
A quarter plate tintype produced using a multigraph mirror arrangement captures a single elderly man appearing as five distinct views simultaneously, a novelty technique popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The mirrors positioned behind and beside the subject reflect him at multiple angles, presenting front-facing, three-quarter, profile, and rear views within a single exposure. No photographer's imprint is visible on the plate.

The subject is a white-haired man with a full white beard, dressed in a dark wool three-piece suit with a white shirt and bow tie. A watch chain is visible across his waistcoat in at least two of the reflected views. He is seated on a plain wooden chair atop a patterned tile or mosaic floor, hands resting in his lap, his expression composed and unsmiling.

The multigraph or mirror-box portrait was a novelty format that allowed a single sitter to be recorded from multiple angles in one sitting, producing results that doubled as a curiosity and a practical reference for sculptors or painters. The tile floor and draped backdrop visible in the reflections are consistent with a professional studio setting.

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