This Sepia Saturday was a tough theme for me – Greetings and handshakes, pipes and politicians. In the hundreds upon hundreds of photos I have, I have none of politicians or handshakes/greetings. Not a single one! I did manage to find two with pipes though, so I’ll share those here especially since the one has intrigued me for a long time. I’m really trying to keep the Sepia Saturday posts about family photos, so here’s my best shot!
This photo came out of the Red Velvet Victorian Photo Album. It was on a page with a photo of what looks like a town street. There’s no photographer identification on the back or front, and both images are well faded which may make them earlier photos. I can date a number of the album photos to around 1880-1910 which helps a little with a date range. This cabinet card in particular is likely on the earlier spectrum because it’s on plain card (a hallmark of earlier photos), but the clothing and scene give us no good hints as to a date. I threw this into a genealogy discussion board at one point and folks in England said it may have been a Christmas play or pantomime or something along those lines. Everyone seems to be in costume, and there’s a gentleman standing to the far right who may be a director. The greenery around the building entrance is mostly dead which would make it fall or winter. My great-great grandmother came from Cornwall, so it’s likely this was from around that area. None of the people in the photo match any other photos in the album, so I doubt they’re related, but it’s still interesting, and my great-great grandmother saw it fit to include in the album so it has to be somewhat important. In fitting the theme, the seated gentleman in the fur coat is holding a wine glass and a pipe! If you happen to be able to identify what’s going on here, or where this may have been taken, please leave a comment!
The first photo definitely looks like the cast of a play of some sort. There’s a king and a queen and court folk. Not sure who the two crowned men are on the left? Interesting.
Someone even suggested that the sets of characters were parts of separate little scenes, not one big play. Anything is possible since I really have no background on the photo!
Nice to have you back on Sepia Saturday, and with such an interesting post.
Thanks! I was a little late posting my entry to the Sepia Saturday blog on Saturday, but it’s here!
The navy photo reminds me of some pictures of my granduncle Ray who was in the navy about that same time.
I’m with you, trying to keep posts related to family history is good, but sometimes it’s ok to stretch a point 🙂 That pipe is hard to spot!
What a mystery. I first tried to think of some historical story or play that they might have been performing, the lad front left looks as though he’s had his face blackened “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” – a military man – a queen with a crown, or maybe a princess, Little Red Riding hood on the seat so for my guess I’ve settled on it being a house party where they were asked to come in fancy dress – maybe a story book character? The two look alike men have me stumped though.
I thought Red Riding Hood too about the same girl. I keep meaning to maybe contact the Cornwall Family History society to see if they have any ideas since I can’t come up with anything!