"Practically every town in Victorian America boasted a photography studio. The proprietor, whether he knew it or not, was an early chronicler of family life. Newborns, graduates, brides, grooms, and entire families posed for the camera – alongside wicker props. Ornate wicker furniture made its debut in photography studios during the 1870s. Light, airy and noticeably three-dimensional in photographs, wicker props made greater headway in studios during the 1880s and early 1900s. Because it was so inexpensive and easy to store, photographers and the public took wicker to their hearts. In fact, fancy wicker pieces became known as “photographer’s chairs.” Wicker’s popularity in studios created a new market; Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company featured in their 1898 catalogue an extremely ornate five-legged “posing chair” specifically designed as a photographer’s prop." - "Collector’s Guide to American Wicker Furniture," by Richard Saunders, published by Hearst Books, New York, 1983, p. 43. The following pages contain photographs showing various ornate wicker chairs that were used by photographers. The chair shown in this photograph appears on pages 47 and 57. The same chair, obviously used by Southwest Harbor photographer. J.C. Ralph, appears in other photographs in the library collection.
Description: "Practically every town in Victorian America boasted a photography studio. The proprietor, whether he knew it or not, was an early chronicler of family life. Newborns, graduates, brides, grooms, and entire families posed for the camera – alongside wicker props. Ornate wicker furniture made its debut in photography studios during the 1870s. Light, airy and noticeably three-dimensional in photographs, wicker props made greater headway in studios during the 1880s and early 1900s. Because it was so inexpensive and easy to store, photographers and the public took wicker to their hearts. In fact, fancy wicker pieces became known as “photographer’s chairs.” Wicker’s popularity in studios created a new market; Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company featured in their 1898 catalogue an extremely ornate five-legged “posing chair” specifically designed as a photographer’s prop." - "Collector’s Guide to American Wicker Furniture," by Richard Saunders, published by Hearst Books, New York, 1983, p. 43. The following pages contain photographs showing various ornate wicker chairs that were used by photographers. The chair shown in this photograph appears on pages 47 and 57. The same chair, obviously used by Southwest Harbor photographer. J.C. Ralph, appears in other photographs in the library collection. [show more]
There are six major buildings along the shore. Left to right: Two and a half story building on left with long front walk is now Hinckley Yacht Brokerage - 130 Shore Road. Building to the right of it with sign says, "Ship Work" - now a residence at 119 Shore Road. It now has an addition on the right. Fourth building from the left has a sign, "Portland Liquid Paint." The steeple on the Manset Union Church is visible on the horizon between the fourth and fifth building from the left. Fifth building from the left has a hammock on the front porch.
Description: There are six major buildings along the shore. Left to right: Two and a half story building on left with long front walk is now Hinckley Yacht Brokerage - 130 Shore Road. Building to the right of it with sign says, "Ship Work" - now a residence at 119 Shore Road. It now has an addition on the right. Fourth building from the left has a sign, "Portland Liquid Paint." The steeple on the Manset Union Church is visible on the horizon between the fourth and fifth building from the left. Fifth building from the left has a hammock on the front porch. [show more]