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Macabre Photography Trade Card - late 1890s / 1900s

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ho2cultcha's loves7471 of 22708U. S. Glass Co. 'Medallion' Canary (Vaseline) Glass Cake Stand, c.188osArtist of the month, November - Samuel Kamen
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    Posted 12 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    Here's another vintage photography tradecard that is certainly out of the ordinary - actually I'm somewhat surprised; what was the artist thinking? Although Pomeroy was a well known portraitist, this classic morphing image tradecard notes, "babies and children a specialty." Let's face it, this is macabre and I cannot imagine it brought in much business. Imagine the 'buzz' around Rochester, NY when this appeared.

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    Comments

    1. Manikin Manikin, 12 years ago
      I agree this is just to morbid for me and gruesome looking to love or like . It is a oddity but just not my taste . You did find a unusual piece though .
    2. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi AR8Jason - I can't blame you. When I first saw this image, I had mixed feelings about the tradecard, but as a vintage camera collector and historian it has a small place in my collection. In reviewing the card closely, I think the photographer was trying to comment about life in some way. What's interesting, is the huge subcollecting theme of post-mortem daguerreotype images (which I don't collect). But as always, thanks for looking!
    3. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi Manikin ... yep, I think this will be the prevailing opinion. Yet it is a rare item which is definitely out of the ordinary. Hmmm ... maybe I should have waited until Halloween. Anyhow, thanks for looking!
    4. kerry10456 kerry10456, 12 years ago
      Just letting you know, I also have viewed this, and as unique as it is, I wouldn't click the loves or likes. It is a truely a important piece of the photographic history and should be treated as such.
    5. Manikin Manikin, 12 years ago
      I so agree with you Kerry it is important part of our history so it is nice it is being cared for . I can not imagine a parent taking their child their for a photo by this ad but maybe they did . Thank you for nice reply rnieder !
    6. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi kerry10456 ... thanks for the comment. You nicely summed up my feelings about this being a piece of history; hence the reason to share whether pretty or not.
    7. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi vetraio50 and thanks for the 'love.'
    8. jericho jericho, 12 years ago
      Obvious subject matter for art, without light no darkness- without life no death. to me, a very positive message for a generation that saw a lot of death and horror. it was telling you to see life (hold one foot away...) and be encouraged. today we just live in denial because everything happens over there somewhere... Art is much darker today
    9. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi scandinavian ... you bring up a couple good points. I'm so close to this stuff I never consider it as art. Moreover, I think you're right in that this type of imagery might have been viewed differently back in the late 1890s / early-1900s. As an example (in addition to post-mortem images), a lot of photographers obsessed with ghost images; but all of these were hoaxes. Yet your point is certainly worth thinking about. Thanks for the comments!
    10. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Hi Jericho ... your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Again, it's a point of view I wouldn't have considered. Thanks!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Thanks, JohnKratz, jojomang, and mrmajestic1.
    12. purpledog purpledog, 12 years ago
      I appreciate this as art, as well. I wouldn't want to stare it on my wall all the time but I think it holds an interesting place as a piece of advertising art.
    13. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Thanks, purpledog and bratjdd.
    14. jericho jericho, 12 years ago
      thank you for sharing- great art provokes good conversation
    15. Hardbrake Hardbrake, 12 years ago
      This is in deed different and a nice addition to any photography/ camera collection. I would like to ask you several question regarding early 19 century American Photographers. About 20 years ago I obtained photo album from the Elmira, New York area and it is from the Civil War years. If you so choose please e-mail me at goldendigor@gmail.com, this is not any inquire or an attempt to sell you anything. The photo in this album all bear the photographers water mark on the back or front. There is about 20 or so photo in good shape from at least 15 different Photographers. Thank You Hardbrake
    16. madvan madvan, 12 years ago
      Great conversation everyone. I'm not a fan of the subject matter, but I'm definitely fascinated that it exists. What was the thought process tht led to giving the green light? Definitely a conversation piece (good or bad).
    17. rniederman rniederman, 12 years ago
      Thanks, hardbrake, chevy59, madvan, and vintagemad. I agree this has been a great discussion and it nice to know many collectors recognize this as an interesting item regardless of the subject matter. For me, this thread has also brought about some interesting perspectives I wouldn't have thought about ... thanks!
    18. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, AmphoraPottery!
    19. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, bratjdd!
    20. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks Lisa, pwsest1944, and ho2cultcha!
    21. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, crabbykins!
    22. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, LeahGoodwin!
    23. Deadbolt Deadbolt, 11 years ago
      Evidently, it gave the idea too others. I have a picture that is a Victorian era woman looking in a mirror and from a distance it's a skull, since there's no children in it, I wouldn't consider my picture Weird! I haven't even thought about it in years and it still in the same place hanging in my computer room. I bet your find is worth a lot to the Oddities collectors. They got their own shows now!!! Why??? Thank you for Sharing.
    24. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks for the comment, Deadbolt.
    25. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, pw-collector!
    26. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, imander!
    27. nldionne nldionne, 11 years ago
      Wow, had to take a second look at this. Amazing!
    28. rniederman rniederman, 11 years ago
      Thanks, walksoftly!
    29. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Okay ... Halloween is approaching and I thought to resurrect this ghoulish image! - Rob
    30. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, nldionne!
    31. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, musikchoo!
    32. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, pops52!
    33. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, AmberRose!
    34. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, VanessaT!
    35. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Vintage-van-Gogh and Tammystrunks!
    36. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 10 years ago
      Early advertising often stressed one or the other of two concepts: 1) Carpe diem - seize the day or 'Eat, drink, and be merry', and 2) Memento mori - life is short and then you die - so do what you can to bring on everlasting life. Photography was one way that everlasting life could be had - even if it was just in the form of a photograph.
    37. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, ho2cultcha for the 'love' and the great comment / observation.
    38. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, fortapache!
    39. antiquerose antiquerose, 10 years ago
      Wow.....first saw the SKULL.....then looked again and saw Kids

      !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Neat!!!!!!!!!!!!
    40. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks antiquerose for the great comment.
    41. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, fortheloveofdog!
    42. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, crazycharacter!
    43. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, kyratango!
    44. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, PatSea!
    45. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, Peterdrury!
    46. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      A same skull/vanity drawing:
      http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Allan_Gilbert#/image/File:Allisvanity.jpg
    47. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, melaniej!
    48. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, jimboothfinds!
    49. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, bradleydolly!
    50. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, Betty1978!
    51. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, surfdub66 and Trey!
    52. clockerman clockerman, 9 years ago
      tHATS A WEIRDIE
    53. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      clockerman
      Brianwithaneye
    54. aura, 8 years ago
      This is very special.
    55. rniederman rniederman, 8 years ago
      Overdue thanks!
      iggy
      aura
      Thomas
      Trey
      ho2cultcha
    56. rniederman rniederman, 7 years ago
      Thanks, Caperkid!
    57. rniederman rniederman, 7 years ago
      Thanks!
      Coke1234
      PostCardCollector
    58. Caperkid, 7 years ago
      You to Rniederman
    59. rniederman rniederman, 7 years ago
      Thanks!
      Thomas
      Caperkid
    60. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks, Ben!
    61. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Happy Halloween!

      And thanks to:
      Roycroftbooksfromme1
      kyratango
      ho2cultcha
    62. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks, Dan121156!
    63. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Happy Halloween!
    64. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks!
      LaurenRedmond
      AnythingObscure
      Vynil33rpm
      Lisa
      keramikos
    65. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, Thomas!
    66. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, amd!
    67. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, Johnsmith!
    68. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, ho2cultcha!
    69. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, antiquerose!
    70. rniederman rniederman, 4 years ago
      Thanks, Nicefice!

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