Sold: Fiddler & Wife

Antique cased ninth plate ambrotype portraits of a fiddler and his wife, c. 1870s. Perhaps an occupational portrait. Given the prominence of the violin in the frame, either he was a professional musician, perhaps a violinist in an orchestra, or fiddling was a favorite pastime such that even the photographer could not pry the instrument away from him. The woman companion portrait is lovely in her own right, with hand-applied details to bring to life a gold brooch. The pair of ambrotypes are in their original ornate gutta percha case, which has a couple small chips and has difficulty closing but nevertheless displays well.

Antique photos sometimes still carry the tune of their anonymous subjects, and the personality of this musical couple remains audible in the images to this day. From a New Hampshire estate.

Measurements

Case:

5 inches across when open

3/4 inches deep

Each frame:

3 inches tall

2.5 inches wide

Condition

Very good condition, with images in excellent states of preservation, a couple of small chips in the gutta percha case, and trouble shutting it completely to latch.

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.