Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 146

Tintype, Young Girl in Stars and Stripes Dress

Estimate: $200 - $300

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 young unidentified girl stands at the center of this full-length tintype, her direct gaze fixed toward the camera with a solemn expression. The format and style of dress place the image in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and no photographer's imprint is visible. She is posed beside a dark upholstered studio chair, her right arm resting across its back in a manner typical of the period's posing conventions.

Her dress is a striking patriotic garment featuring vertical stripes paired with a star-patterned panel, with long fitted sleeves and a loose, smocked bodice that falls to the floor. A striped cap with a rounded crown sits atop her short dark hair, coordinating with the dress in a deliberate ensemble. A patterned carpet is visible beneath her feet, and a painted studio backdrop with a partial column prop appears at the left edge of the frame.

The stars and stripes costume suggests the photograph may have been taken near a patriotic occasion or holiday, a practice common in American portrait studios during the post-Civil War era. Such deliberate costuming in tintype portraiture is an increasingly documented phenomenon tied to Fourth of July celebrations and similar commemorations.

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