Look at those little hands.
This baby isn't waiting for someone to shake a rattle. This baby has called a meeting.
An unidentified Victorian infant sits propped in a wonderfully oversized studio chair, hands neatly clasped, staring directly into the camera with a tiny expression that suggests several arrangements have already been made on your behalf.
Beyond our suspicious little sitter, the cabinet card itself is beautiful. The cream mount has an ornate repeating border, and the Kramer photographer information is actually impressed into the card rather than simply printed on the surface, giving the bottom of the mount wonderful texture and dimension. The studio lists locations in Scranton, Carbondale and Olyphant, Pennsylvania.
This would be fantastic in a collection of antique photographs, tucked into a curiosity cabinet, displayed with Victorian oddities, or brought out when your Halloween decor needs something considerably subtler than another plastic skeleton. Old photographs are also fascinating for intuitive exercises and photographic divination, particularly when the subject already appears to be staring you down.
No psychic reading has been performed on this photograph, and I'm making no paranormal claims about the baby.
I'm merely saying I wouldn't turn my back on it.
Details
Original antique cabinet card photograph
Victorian era infant portrait
Photographer: Kramer
Studio locations listed as Scranton, Carbondale and Olyphant, Pennsylvania
Unidentified baby
Ornate cream card mount
Photographer lettering and decoration are impressed/embossed into the mount rather than simply surface printed
Age appropriate toning, spotting and wear may be present
Sold as found
Display easel and styling props not included
