Archive for September, 2007
Cameo and Pseudo-Cameo
Presenting photographic images in an oval shape was popular from the beginning of photography. In our dated image collection, about 40% of all cased images have oval mats. Since more elaborate shapes became available as time went on, one would think the simple oval would lose popularity — but in fact it was just the […]
Read More..>>The Dividing Line
The dividing line is a thick, decorative line across the front of a cabinet card that divides the space in two, the large upper part for the image, and a small lower section for the photographer’s imprint. I first noticed this style of imprint on a card by a railroad photographer, and the line resembled […]
Read More..>>The Double Line
Usually characterized as an 1860s feature (though we found several instances from the early 1870s), the double line around the print area of a CDV is most often gilt, but may be colored ink. Here is what Darrah had to say about this feature in his Cartes de Visite book:
By mid 1861 a variety of […]
Wide Crossed Neck Ribbons
Nineteenth century women loved to wear ribbons — in their hats and hair, around their necks and waists, or just tied in a bow and fixed to their dress. So we have no shortage of images showing women wearing ribbons. But there were fashions in just how a ribbon was to be worn, and what […]
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