A striking and evocative large-format gelatin-silver photograph, depicting a sailor in full maritime attire. He wears a traditional seaman’s jersey with the ship’s name WINIFRED across the chest and a matching cap with its original tally(ribbon) bearing the ship’s name — a classic marker of early 20th-century working-vessel service. The jumper labelled WINIFRED, combined with the cap tally indicates the sitter served in a civilian or merchant setting, most likely aboard a modest commercial or coastal vessel rather than a military ship.These highly personal photographs were often commissioned by crew members or their families, serving as mementos of time at sea, and this example captures the quiet pride and dignity of a working seaman of the period. The process used was that of a gelatin-silver print — the dominant photographic process of the period — mounted on its original backing and presented behind glass in a dark-stained wooden frame with a gilt slip. The large-format negative has allowed for exceptional detail in the sitter’s features, uniform, and lettering.
It is rare to find a surviving photo of the period with a crew member with the name on their jumper.
There were a number of vessels at the time under the name Winifred and further research may yield results.
In original oak frame, in good condition, with light silvering to the surface in places, mild toning to the mount, and age-appropriate wear to the frame. Mounted behind glass.
Measurements: Frame 65?cm × 52?cm
British, c.1900–1920s
Physical Dimensions
Height
65cm (25.59")
Width
52cm (20.47")
Declaration
Rob Hall Antiques has dated this Antique Sailor Framed Photograph to the 1910s.
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1161607
Description
A striking and evocative large-format gelatin-silver photograph, depicting a sailor in full maritime attire. He wears a traditional seaman’s jersey with the ship’s name WINIFRED across the chest and a matching cap with its original tally(ribbon) bearing the ship’s name — a classic marker of early 20th-century working-vessel service. The jumper labelled WINIFRED, combined with the cap tally indicates the sitter served in a civilian or merchant setting, most likely aboard a modest commercial or coastal vessel rather than a military ship.These highly personal photographs were often commissioned by crew members or their families, serving as mementos of time at sea, and this example captures the quiet pride and dignity of a working seaman of the period. The process used was that of a gelatin-silver print — the dominant photographic process of the period — mounted on its original backing and presented behind glass in a dark-stained wooden frame with a gilt slip.
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The large-format negative has allowed for exceptional detail in the sitter’s features, uniform, and lettering.
Rob Hall Antiques
fig 1. A Large Photograph on Card of a Sailor of the Vessel Winifred, C.1900–1920s in Original Oak Frame
It is rare to find a surviving photo of the period with a crew member with the name on their jumper.
There were a number of vessels at the time under the name Winifred and further research may yield results.
In original oak frame, in good condition, with light silvering to the surface in places, mild toning to the mount, and age-appropriate wear to the frame. Mounted behind glass.
Measurements: Frame 65?cm × 52?cm
British, c.1900–1920s
Physical Dimensions
Height
65cm (25.59")
Width
52cm (20.47")
Date of Manufacture
Rob Hall Antiques has dated this Antique Sailor Framed Photograph to the 1910s.
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