Long story short I was scrolling through eBay looking for new images when I came across a photograph that caught my attention. It just so happened to be an image of the postmortem variety, and it agreed with my arguably odd photographic sensibilities when it comes to the depiction of the dead.
Here lies Andrew [the name can be seen on the top of the open coffin lid]. This is a very large, late Victorian photograph, mounted on card and as you can see the open coffin is surrounded by an elaborate display of floral tributes and ribbons. Details: there's a taxidermy dove in flight among the wreaths, family portraits in the background and some kind of award/medal with a ribbon which has been laid upon his chest. Among the ribbons the word 'brother' can be seen and interestingly there's one which says 'The Brewing Company.'
This kind of photography was very popular during the Victorian era and was made possible by the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839, and was the practice of photographing the recently deceased.
It may seem odd, or even disturbing to us now, but it was common practice in American and European cultures during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when frequent death was a very ordinary part of life, especially in that of children where mortality rates were extremely high, and the family may not have had any imagery to remember them by. Later came the invention of the carte de visite which allowed multiple prints to be made from one single negative. 'Snapshot' photography followed and opened up the medium to more people, meaning that this kind of memento-mori photography wasn't necessary so it eventually died out.
I bought the image from an online shop called Down A Dark Alley Emporium from a lovely individual called Serenity. I was pleasantly surprised upon opening it because it was so beautifully packaged, there was a lovely note inside and I received two free photographic cards as extras.
I fired off a message to Serenity to thank her for being so kind and to inform her that I would be writing a little something on here to let others know about her wonderful shop.
Her eBay shop is host to a delightful array of strange and unusual items; collectable antiques, taxidermies, photographs and more and if you're interested in those kind of wonderful things then I suggest you go take a look for yourself!
Down A Dark Alley is a reflection of my own collection of strange and unusual items. My father was an archaeologist and as a result I virtually grew up in museums. Not the modern push-button, video screen museums, but the type of museums stuffed full of Victorian taxidermy, fossils and skeletons all mixed up together. Blended with a healthy interest in the darker side of Victorian culture...an interest in creating dark art...well the result is Down A Dark Alley. - Serenity, Down A Dark Alley Emporium.
eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/down_a_dark_alley
Facebook: www.facebook.com/downadarkalleyemporium
Website: Is currently being made and I shall let you know when it's live!
- VM
