Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 367

Tintype, Two Men with Pipes and Bedrolls

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Two unidentified men pose together in this trimmed sixth-plate tintype, likely produced in the 1890s based on the clothing and studio conventions visible throughout the image. The standing figure holds a bundled bedroll and what appears to be a folded coat draped over his arm, while the seated younger man rests a second bedroll across the arm of an ornate parlor chair. No photographer's imprint is visible, and the tintype has been cut to an irregular shape at the corners.

The standing man wears a three-piece suit, a loosely knotted cravat, and a low-crowned felt hat, and sports a prominent handlebar mustache. A pipe is held in his mouth or tucked near his face, and the younger seated figure also holds a pipe between his lips. The younger man is dressed in a dark sack coat and bow tie, with a small round hat perched on his head.

The floral painted backdrop and ornate iron posing chair are consistent with commercial studio production of the period. The bedrolls carried by both subjects suggest the two may have been travelers or itinerant workers, posed with their gear as a deliberate statement of identity.

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