photograph on paper with a stamp Robert Lenz & C Bankok
6 1/4" x 9 1/4" print
Hello,
Your item is an original pair of early photographic prints likely produced by the photographic studio Robert Lenz & Co., based in Bangkok. These works depict a child in traditional attire posed with a large ceramic container, rendered with a soft, staged aesthetic common to colonial or turn-of-the-century portraiture in Southeast Asia.
Historical Context:
Robert Lenz & Co. was an established photography studio in Bangkok during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for capturing formal portraits and genre scenes of local life, often catering to foreign clientele and diplomats. The presence of the studio’s stamp enhances the credibility and provenance of the photographs, suggesting they were created in a formal commercial context during the studio’s peak operational years.
Description and Analysis:
The images appear to be albumen or silver gelatin prints, later hand-colored—a technique often employed to add liveliness to monochromatic prints. The subtle tinting on the child’s clothing and the photographic composition suggest an early 20th-century origin. The preserved condition, original matting, and matching gilt frames add significant value, especially as a pair. The scale of the prints (6¼” x 9¼”) aligns with standard cabinet or portrait sizes from that era.