Cingalese Family Portrait. Albumen photograph from the Colombo Apothecaries Company.
Ca. 1895. Large albumen photograph depicting a Cingalese (Ceylon) family consisting of a grandfather, father and young daughter, all dressed in their finest. The young father holds a cloth parasol. The young daughter, about 6 or 7 years old, already is wearing fine gold ornaments including necklaces, nose ring and earrings.
"Colombo Apothecaries Company was established by J. Smith Finlay and W.M. Smith in Colombo, Ceylon in 1883. From a small mercantile establishment the Company grew rapidly into a large general store selling most commodities. The name Colombo Apothecaries Company was established in 1892 and by this time already had a photographic department. As an expansion of this department the company acquired the negatives of Charles Scowen Company and moved their studio to Kandy where the climate was considered better for photographic work than Colombo. After the acquisition of the Scowen portfolio, the Colombo Apothecaries Company produced a fine catalogue and started selling their photographs worldwide". (Our thanks to Palinda de Silva for the above information.)
This is just such an intimate portrait, with the grandfather, at the right, slightly blurred as if he moved during a long exposure.
A good bright image, some light creasing and a little chipped at edges, otherwise good + condition. Large photo, 8 1/4 x 10 1/2" Good + overall. Item #23538
Price: $375.00