Antique Portrait of Young Girl – c.1900 Cabinet Card with Handwriting | Viridian Eclection
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A tender turn of the century portrait of a young girl, preserved in its original cabinet card mount and framed inside a period wooden frame.
The photograph captures a toddler in a striped cotton dress with velvet trim and lace up shoes, holding a small pendant, standing beside an ornate wicker chair. The print is an early gelatin silver in a warm sepia tone.
Above the portrait, handwritten in period script, is the inscription "My baby ... 2 yrs 9 age." The name itself has faded with time, though the sentiment remains intact.
The mount is an embossed cabinet card with shellwork corners and a beaded border, set in an early to mid twentieth century hardwood frame in deep cherry brown.
History & Provenance
This is a classic Edwardian era children's portrait, the photograph dating from about 1895 to 1910.
Girls' clothing of the period frequently featured full skirts, striped cotton dresses, velvet accents, long necklaces or pendants, and lace up boots. Every one of those elements appears here, including the velvet collar and cuffs and the high button leather boots.
The decorative mount and the wicker posing bench are classic elements of formal portrait studios of the period. Having a professional child portrait taken was a special occasion for middle class families.
The handwritten note recording the child at two years and nine months was likely written by her mother or caretaker, and it makes the piece a personal glimpse into family life of more than 120 years ago.
Product Details
| Era | c. 1895 to 1910 for the photograph |
| Subject | Young girl, recorded as two years and nine months |
| Format | Embossed cabinet card with shellwork corners and beaded border |
| Medium | Early gelatin silver print, warm sepia tone |
| Materials | Cabinet card in a hardwood frame |
| Frame | Early to mid twentieth century hardwood frame in deep cherry brown |
| Marks | Original maternal inscription on the mount, reading My baby, 2 yrs 9 age, with the name faded |
| Condition | Excellent antique character. Photograph retains clarity and tone. Embossed mount shows gentle age wear. Handwriting remains legible. Frame shows light surface wear consistent with age. Glass clean and intact. Ready to hang |
| Dimensions | To be confirmed |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
The portrait brings sweetness, warmth and quiet nostalgia to a room, carried as much by the handwriting as by the image.
It suits cottage and farmhouse interiors, Victorian gallery walls, a nursery or children's room, and collections of vintage photography.
On a shelf or a console it works as an intimate styling moment, a preserved moment of motherhood, care and history.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
