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Lot 164 - Grouping Of Five Antique Boarded Studio Photographs Of Children In Book Carnival Costumes, Photographed By Combs, Evansville, Wisconsin
Lot 164 - Grouping Of Five Antique Boarded Studio Photographs Of Children In Book Carnival Costumes, Photographed By Combs, Evansville, Wisconsin
Lot 164 - Grouping Of Five Antique Boarded Studio Photographs Of Children In Book Carnival Costumes, Photographed By Combs, Evansville, Wisconsin
Grouping of five antique board-mounted studio photographs depicting children posed in themed “book carnival” or costume tableaux. The children are dressed in stage or pageant costumes reflecting turn-of-the-century interpretations of “Oriental” attire, as was commonly seen in school pageants, theatrical performances, and studio novelty photography of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
All photographs bear the imprint of Combs, “Ground Floor Studio,” Evansville, Wisconsin, visible on the mounts. The images appear to form a cohesive set, with coordinated backdrops, props, and costuming, suggesting a single event or studio session.
Important context note: the costumes and visual themes shown reflect period attitudes and theatrical conventions that relied on racialized and stereotyped imagery. These representations are now widely recognized as offensive and inappropriate. The photographs are presented strictly as historical artifacts that document the social norms, entertainment practices, and photographic studio culture of their era, not as an endorsement of the imagery or ideas depicted.
Condition varies across the group and includes light to moderate toning, surface wear, and edge and corner wear to the mounts consistent with age and handling. Some mounts show minor holes or marks from prior album storage. All images remain clear and legible, with studio imprints intact.
Listed dimensions are for each individual photograph.
Auction Date: 01/08/2026
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