Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

[markj]

Greetings,

If this is the real thing, it's definitely a neat, and perhaps unique, image:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13704&item=6109824929&rd=1

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

How Nifty!

(Man, I already spent my eBay budget this month.... siiiiiigh.)

I'm not an expert on men's clothing, but his neckcloth sure looks 50's to me... and it's an unusual occupational image, too... I'd expect it to go quite high before it's finished. I didn't spot anything to indicate it's a modern image, or too far later than the date given, either.

[MissMaggie]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

I'm curious about the women standing to the left. I didnt think it was a person at first due to the odd looking white blur thing that is going on where her head and shoulders should be. Is this just an imperfection in the plate or a blur created by movement? I'm very interested to know if someone thinks it may be something else.

[Jefferson Guards]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

I am almost certain that ghostly thing to the left of the image is a person. In the enlargement showing the fabric on the counter you can see what are certainly hands. The white thing where her head should be might be some kind of headwear that is obscuring her face. The presence of someone "buying" something in the photograph could be a way to emphasize that the man is a salesman.
I don't see anything that would label this photograph as a fake. Either the image is dark, or the scans came out dark, or both, but because of this there is a somewhat lack of detail. The height of the vest opening seems to be in keeping with an 1850s style. It is an interesting photo. Thanks Mark!

[Trish Hasenmueller]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

I also agree that there seems to be a woman on the left side of the picture. I also submit that she seems to be wearing a hood very similar to a hood owned by Phillip and Janine Whiteman and is part of their PNJW collection. Their hood is a black silk quilted hood with a turn-back front of white or cream colored quilted silk that has parts that hang down in the front very similarly to the one on the lady in the picture. If you look closely, you can see her nose poking out from the front. She is also wearing a folded shawl with fringe on the edge and you can make out some detail on her sleeves. She may not be as blurry as at first thought. If I can get permission from the Whitemans to put a photo of their hood on this forum, I will post it later.

Trish Hasenmueller

[AbbyWalker]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

For what it's worth-- the seller has a very good reputation and is considered somewhat "upscale". He's not a "flea market" kinda guy who happens to pick up an image or two. He specializes in antique photography, and I believe he wouldn't risk his reputation with a fraud. As for the woman... the last little photo in the left hand column has a close up of her hands and dress. It looks like she's wearing a solid color, perhaps wool?

Great photo- thanks for posting it! I'm now off to get a second mortgage, so I can bid on it, lol. :cry_smile

Abigail Walker

[markj]

Re: Alleged image of fabric shop - 1850's

Just so we don't lose the image, here are the three clearest scans from the eBay listing.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger