but a comfy room will do nicely for a woman. I think most women want a nest. It could be a sparse nest or one brimming with treasures, but not a castle. A castle is too much to clean. A castle is for a bloated ego. A quiet room will do quite nicely, thank you.
I have no information on this image. This woman has her treasures nicely arranged. This room was important to her. I wish all women had a room that was important to them where they could feel safe being themselves.
This is my submission for this weeks Sepia Saturday.
Posts
What a neat interior photo. It's interesting to see how fabric was important to 19th century decor. There is an odd wreath on the oil lamp. That doesn't look safe. And what is the envelope thing above her head on the wall?
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about the lamp. What kind of weird shade is that that would most certainly catch on fire. Then I figured it was a hat. One of those crazy large hats. I can see her wearing it with that dress. That thing behind her? Good question. I haven't a clue.
DeleteThat makes sense, especially if the hat has a hole in the crown for her topknot, and then the lamp's chimney would make work as a hat holder. Could this explain the ladies craze for pointed topknots in the 1890s? A way to fasten a hat?
DeleteA Google Image search for "19th century letter holder wall" offered several similar antique items. Probably came from the Sears catalog.
Quite a few odd things about this intriguing photograph. I wonder if the items Mike refers to is a lampshade, but if so then why is it so dark as that would seem to defeat the purpose of having a light. Perhaps it's an oil lamp converted to electricity, because the clothing and style of mont suggest early 1900s to me. The photos on the table are flimsy, and I wondered if they had just been arranged there for the duration of the portrait sitting. Also, what is that item below the picture on the wall, just above her head. Rather odd.
ReplyDeleteHands down, that "lampshade" and that thing on the wall are going to be the most curious items to be discussed. We are all wondering the same thing.
DeleteIt is interesting to see the woman along with her decor.
ReplyDeleteA set up "snapshot" like this is so nice to find. You so rarely see interiors in vernacular photographs. Having to light this so that you'd be able to see it wasn't for the weak of heart.
DeleteI wonder if she dreamed of, and stalked some dude in the photo shrine?
ReplyDeleteStalking? Let's hope not. Longed for is more romantic.
DeleteShe seems to have a letter in her hand. Was it a "dear John letter". Is she dreaming of her lost love?
ReplyDeleteNancy
Hmmm...this puts a whole twist on the image. Is she the Dear John or is she reading the dear John she'll be sending?
DeleteDefinitely a hat on a hat stand, and a letter rack behind her head. What a lot of objects though, a bit cluttered in a teenager's bedroom kind of way.
ReplyDeleteVery Victorian/Edwardian in style with all the fabrics and stuff. They loved stuff around them. Now, who did the dusting?
DeleteThere is a lot to look at in this picture and a lot of questions to ask.
ReplyDeleteAnd how I wish I could pull in the details of all the photos and paintings she has in that room. More to the story.
DeleteHow I would love to have a photo of my grandmother's or great grandmother's bedroom such as this!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be wonderful.
DeleteShe seems too young to need a rocking chair:)
ReplyDeleteRockin' ain't just for old ladies. She liked to quietly rock 'n' roll.
DeleteSomehow I don't think today's bedrooms will be so attractive in years to come.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree. Nor do I think many of the photos that are coming out of bedrooms would be so pensive.
DeleteA little too frilly for my taste,
ReplyDeletebut them
this is a woman's room!!
The odd thing for me are those pictures
stuck on a piece of cardboard on the wall.
It looks unrefined in this room.
Perhaps her means were modest
and that was the best she could do
at the time?...
But yes, home is a man's castle!!
I cherish my home!!
:)~
HUGZ
I think she just took her hat off for the photo and temporarily stuck it on the lamp. Let's hope she remembered it later. And she looks more, to me, like she's about to send a "Dear John" letter.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice room. I hope she's prepared to stay there for awhile.
Barbara
Ha - you're right. Don't give me a castle to clean!
ReplyDeleteA lot to look at here and you are right, we all need a room to call her own.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that "thing" is a magazine or mail holder.