Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Spring Photographic History Auction

Sat, May 3, 2025 01:00PM EDT
  2025-05-03 13:00:00 2025-05-03 13:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : Spring Photographic History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/spring-photographic-history-auction-19217
Raw, rare, and unforgettable—this is 19th- and early 20th-century photography at its best. Vernacular portraits, Native American warriors, African American resilience, Mormon pioneers, Western frontier families, and stark post-mortem scenes. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards that capture real life without filters. Every image tells a story of survival, pride, and change. A museum-worthy collection for those who know real American history when they see it.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 157

Wonderfully Composed Ambrotype Scene of A Man in his Cart

Estimate: $300 - $500
Starting Bid
$150

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A quarter plate ambrotype of a bearded man seated in a light four-wheeled cart, pulled by a pale horse hitched and standing alert beside a wooden structure. The entire composition is tightly arranged and full of clean lines—vertical siding, angular shadows, the bold wheels of the cart, and the quiet presence of the horse anchoring the frame.

The driver, dressed in a long coat and military-style cap, sits with a calm dignity and presence. The bright sunlight throws a sharp triangle of shadow across the barn wall, adding dramatic geometry to the scene. The pale coat of the horse gleams against the darker backdrop, and the fine detail in the harness and wheels is crisp and clear.

A fantastic outdoor occupational image with outstanding composition, contrast, and depth—one of those rare ambrotypes that feels cinematic in its stillness.

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