• I suspect this might be a woman, what do you think?
  • what's going on with the scattered toys? They're on the ground as well
  • He's Father Christmas, and the toys are falling from his bag. - Patrick Q

Victorian masquerade

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This is the most mysterious photograph I possess, and one of the first
I ever bought - in a dusty house clearance shop in Lincoln.

elkit, kkolealaurel, Kim Scarborough, decembre, and 49 other people added this photo to their favorites.

View 13 more comments

  1. Jim Barker 82 months ago | reply

    A good thing if you like comedy avant-garde music

  2. daryldarko 80 months ago | reply

    seriously scary Santa, sure they weren't dressed for Halloween?

  3. bill barber 72 months ago | reply

    I think this is probably a pictures of mummers

  4. TinTrunk 72 months ago | reply

    daryldarko - yup, scary is the word. I reckon the trees might not be quite so bare in late October, and there's not that many fallen leaves that I can see, but I could easily be wrong.

    Another interesting idea, wdwbarber. Thanks.

    According to wikipedia's entry on mummers, there were 'plough plays' performed in the east midlands (Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire) around Plough Monday (the first Monday after the twelfth day of Christmas). That would fit nicely with the location I bought this picture and the state of the hedges.

  5. madrigals 72 months ago | reply

    What a crazy picture. It reminds me of a dream.

  6. TinTrunk 72 months ago | reply

    Thanks madrigals - a rather disturbing dream!

  7. Scoobymoo 72 months ago | reply

    Don't think you get women mummers. Not sure either figure fits with the usual mummer archetypes either.

  8. chrissku 71 months ago | reply

    I would guess this picture is early 1900's. I might even venture to guess that this might be a picture that was taken in Europe. This picture is typical of a late 19th early 20th century view of Santa Claus.

    Note: (The person dressed up as whom I suspect is Santa appears to be a young boy in his late teens. It would be highly unlikley that a women would have been allowed to be displayed dressed up as a man for any type of advertising.)

  9. TinTrunk 71 months ago | reply

    Thanks Scoobymoo. I'm still favouring the Santa theory, but I really enjoy all the suggestions that come up.

    Another interesting perspective, ta chrisku0613!

    This is a large photo print mounted on card, not an advertisement, and I've only just recently checked on the back where there is a stamp from a Lincoln chemist. Its definitely English.

    But I think you've got a point that Santa might be a youth - some of them are very pretty! I just love all this speculation!

  10. chrissku 71 months ago | reply

    Check out this group Trevira. It is all old photos. At least 100 yrs old. I found it today. www.flickr.com/groups/100_years_old/pool/page2/

  11. chrissku 71 months ago | reply

    Oh....and here is a place you can go to purchase vintage photographs! Check it out.
    thanatos.net/vintage/

  12. TinTrunk 71 months ago | reply

    Thanks chrisku0613!

  13. lauralemur (life is upsidedown right now) 70 months ago | reply

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Playthings of the Past: Antique Photos of Dolls & Toys, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

  14. TinTrunk 70 months ago | reply

    Added! Thanks for the invite lauralemur.

  15. lord marmalade 57 months ago | reply

    treasure indeed

  16. ©roseღ♥❀ 54 months ago | reply

    you have opened pandora's box

    You are invited to post this photo at
    Pandora's dark box
    you are truly a dark creative soul

    New!! Holiday Decortations challenge flickr.com/groups/933777@N22/discuss/72157610729498910/
    *Feel free to post a photo from your stream and do not forget to ask for your invite!*

  17. smokey lace 39 months ago | reply

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The spooky victorian, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  18. TinTrunk 39 months ago | reply

    Thanks for the invite, smokey lace. I'm sure this one qualifies nicely for your group!

  19. smokey lace 39 months ago | reply

    Thanks for adding Trevira, and you're right, these could well be the most spooky of all the spooky victorians!

  20. in8sworld 7 months ago | reply

    My guess is that the picture depicts Sinterklaus (Santa Claus in the Netherlands) and his companion, Zwartze Pete (black Piet). Black Piet is suposed to be a Moor (in the Netherlands Sinterklaus travels up for the St. Nicholas feast on Dec. 5 from Spain). Piet personifies the "bad cop" character who takes on the punishment role for the bad kids, while Sinterklaus hands out trinkets to the good ones. There is constant debate about whether depictions of Black Piet are indeed racist or not. Earliest documented Black Piet references are from the 1850s, but were commonly part of the celebrations until a couple decades ago.

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