Photograph by
Busey, N. H., American, 1845 - 1928
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Date
1880s
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper on cardboard
Dimensions
H x W (Mounted): 6 1/2 × 4 in. (16.5 × 10.2 cm)
H x W (Image): 5 1/2 × 3 7/8 in. (14 × 9.8 cm)
Description
A sepia tone cabinet card of a young woman posing with a pedestal table. The photograph is in portrait orientation. The unidentified woman is depicted from the knees up. She is facing the viewer and wearing a serious expression on her face. Her proper right elbow is propped on a metal pedestal table next to her and her fingers are intertwined at her waist. Clasped between her two hands is a white handkerchief. She is wearing a plain, light toned dress with a fitted bodice and a full skirts with large pleats at the front. The bodice has large plaid lapels at the front. Below the lapels are two rows of two, large, plaid fabric covered, decorative buttons. Between the two rows of decorative buttons is a row of four, small plain buttons down the center of the bodice. In between the lapels of the dress bodice is a matching, ruched, plaid panel. The dress also features a high, plaid collar with a thin, white ruffle at the top and white ruffles at the cuffs. Pinned to the center of her collar is an oval shaped brooch. The women’s hair is pulled back and up, leaving loose curls over her forehead. On the left is the pedestal table she is resting her elbow on. The pedestal table is waist tall and metal with a small, round, flat surface and the rounded column below that features a post round with near the top accented with leaves and two tapered, molded shapes below. There is also a partially visible plant on the left, with leaves just above the pedestal table. In the background is a plain photographic backdrop accented with a large floor vase on the far left. The photograph is adhered to a cream colored cardboard mount that leaves a small frame along the right, left, and top edges. The bottom edge is wider with printed black ink text. The name of the photography studio, [N.H. BUSEY,], is printed in gold text in the bottom left corner. The studio location, [BALTIMORE.] is printed in gold text in the bottom right corner. There’s also a thin gold band printed along all four edges of the mount. The back of the cabinet card is cream colored and plain with two small areas of surface losses along the top edge.
Place captured
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
cabinet photographs
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Photography
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of James M. Baxter
Object number
2021.13.7
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f0a7765e-801e-4e63-b620-0a8c326a2171

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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