Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 355

Tintype, Post-Mortem Portrait, Unidentified Woman in Coffin

Estimate: $100 - $200

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
An unidentified woman is portrayed in post-mortem repose within an open coffin in this sixth-plate tintype, likely dating to the 1870s or 1880s based on the ferrotype format and funerary presentation conventions of the period. No photographer's imprint is visible, and the image carries no attribution. The tintype exhibits bends across the surface consistent with age and handling.

The subject is dressed in dark clothing with a white lace or ruffled collar visible at the neckline, and her hands rest at her sides with fingers slightly curled. A profusion of cut flowers and leafy sprigs has been arranged around her head and across her chest, a common mourning custom of the era. The coffin interior is lined with white fabric, and the padded side panels are partially visible at both edges of the frame.

Post-mortem photography served as a vital memorial practice throughout the Victorian period, particularly in rural and working-class communities where a death portrait might represent the only photographic record of an individual's existence. The careful placement of flowers and the formal arrangement of the subject reflect the ceremonial attention given to such commissions.

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