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An impressive and unusually substantial Late Victorian photograph album, circa 1880, featuring an elaborate sculptural high-relief metal plaque mounted over the leather-covered front board.
The large relief depicts a young woman feeding poultry in a rural farmyard, surrounded by chickens, a rooster, foliage, architectural details and landscape elements. The central genre scene is framed by exceptionally elaborate raised floral, foliate and architectural ornament.
The metal has a beautiful deep dark brown to nearly black aged patina, with subtle variations and highlights across the raised areas that emphasize the depth of the relief. The exact metal composition has not been determined; it may be a copper-based alloy, but it is conservatively described here simply as patinated metal.
The album itself is exceptionally substantial, measuring approximately 12 × 9 × 3 inches and weighing approximately 6 pounds. It contains 15 heavy photograph leaves/pages, with gilt page edges and a variety of decorative photograph openings. One of the interior mounts features particularly attractive period chromolithographic floral and landscape decoration.
The original metal clasp remains present.
The album is unsigned, and no manufacturer's marks or hallmarks have been found. Based on its construction and decorative style, it is believed to be Continental European, although the exact country of manufacture is unknown.
DETAILS
- Period: Late Victorian, circa 1880
- Type: Photograph / cabinet card album
- Binding: Leather
- Cover: Large high-relief dark-patinated metal plaque
- Subject: Young woman feeding poultry in a farmyard
- Size: Approx. 12 × 9 × 3 inches
- Weight: Approx. 6 pounds
- Interior: 15 heavy photograph sleaves/pages
- Page edges: Gilt
- Closure: Metal clasp
- Maker: Unknown / unsigned
- Origin: Attributed to Continental Europe; exact country unknown
- Metal composition: Untested / unidentified
Antique condition with substantial age-related wear consistent with an album approximately 125 years old. The leather binding shows considerable surface wear, rubbing, losses and deterioration, particularly around the edges, corners and spine. Interior pages show age-related toning, spotting, wear and occasional losses or damage around some photograph openings.
The large sculptural metal cover remains highly impressive, retaining its extensive raised decoration and deep aged patina. The original clasp is present.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description. The album is being sold in its present antique condition.
