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 147

Tintype, Two Women with American Flag and Fan

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 women pose in a studio setting in this tintype, likely dating to the 1880s based on dress silhouette and styling. The standing figure rests her hand on the shoulder of the seated woman, a conventional compositional arrangement of the period. No photographer's imprint is visible.

The standing woman wears a fitted light-colored dress with a heavily pleated bodice, lace cuffs, and a full skirt, and holds a large folded paper fan at her side. The seated woman wears a light polka-dotted dress with a high collar and puffed sleeves, and holds a small American flag with visible stars and stripes across her lap. A painted studio backdrop featuring a tall ornamental column is visible behind the pair.

The presence of the American flag alongside the fan suggests a Fourth of July sitting, a practice common among commercial portrait studios in the late nineteenth century, when patriotic props were made available to clients around the holiday.

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