Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 352

Tintype, Unidentified Infant in Wicker Bassinet

Estimate: $50 - $100

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 infant is depicted in this tintype, most likely produced in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The format, emulsion cracking across the surface, and absence of any photographer's imprint place it firmly within the vernacular portrait tradition of the period. The image appears to be a post-mortem or of dying child, a common memorial practice of the era in which photography served as the sole means of preserving a likeness.

The infant lies reclined in a wicker bassinet with a pronounced herringbone weave along the upper rail and a diamond lattice pattern on the lower body. A white cloth or gown drapes loosely across the child, and one small hand is partially visible at the left side. The child's eyes are partially open, the face relaxed and tilted slightly toward the camera against a pale backdrop.

Post-mortem infant photography was widely practiced in the Victorian era and carried no social stigma, often representing the only formal portrait a family would commission of a child who died in infancy. Such images were treasured keepsakes and are now recognized as significant artifacts of nineteenth-century mourning culture.

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