There certainly must be an interesting story related to this cabinet card photograph by Conklins Studio in Dowaglac, Michigan. A girl, who appears to be an early teenager, poses for this photograph dressed in a beautiful kimono and holding an oriental fan. Where did she get such a terrific clothing? Did her she, or her parents travel to Japan to obtain these clothes? Was Asian fashion in vogue at the time of this photograph? Comments related to these questions are welcome.
“KIMONO GIRL” IN DOWAGLAC, MICHIGAN
ASIAN MAN IN DAVENPORT, IOWA (IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO!)
This photograph features a gentleman of Asian appearance posing in the studio of Jarvis White, in Davenport, Iowa. The subject may not actually be of Asian descent; the hypothesis is certainly debatable. The gentleman has a fantastic and well tended mustache and beard. The photograph has remarkable clarity. The reverse of the photo has a pencilled inscription of a woman’s first name (Grace) and an illegible last name. The card is also dated November, 1898. To view other images of interesting facial hair, click on this site’s categories of Beards: (Only the Best) and Mustaches (Only the Best). The photographer of this image established his photographic studio in 1874 and was the successor to Hastings, White & Fisher, of 320 Brady Street, in Davenport, Iowa.
WESTERN DRESSED ASIAN MAN: PORTRAIT BY PHOTOGRAPHERS TO THE QUEEN
This cabinet card is a portrait of a formally dressed young man who appears to be of Asian descent. The gentleman may be a visitor to the West; or he may be an immigrant to, or resident of the country where he was photographed. The man is handsome and dressed like a man of means. The photographic studio is A & G Taylor, one of several British studios that claim to be “Photographers to the Queen”. Andrew and George Taylor owned the largest Victorian Photography firms in the United Kingdom. The company was started in London in the 1860′s. This particular photograph was taken after 1886 (determined by the back stamp logo); and at that time, the firm had branches in 36 United Kingdom cities, and in 6 cities in the United States.
