Curious c. 1870s Baby Portrait with (Hidden Mother’s?) Hand, T.S. Estabrook, Brooklyn Ferrotype  chart which of course makes it

which of course makes it feel all the more precious to me

but whoever it was certainly knew what they were doing

6 1/2 tall standing on all four legs

) when not pushing it around

I especially love the effect of the old labels on the wood

Curious c. 1870s Baby Portrait with (Hidden Mother’s?) Hand, T.S. Estabrook, Brooklyn Ferrotype  chart which of course makes itI keep an eye out for hidden mother portraits antique photos in which the mother of a young child is present, unusually in order to prop up or comfort the child, but either veiled (often in the most wonderfully absurd ways) or only partially in the frame. Here I assume it is the mother's hand and arm at upper left, clutching what appear to be a few flowers and I'n not sure what all. On the other hand, this child does not look especially full of life,