High tea in the garden. Australia, circa 1905.

Gelatin silver print photograph, 80 x 150 mm, laid down on its original green board mount.; no photographer’s imprint; inscribed verso: ‘Dear Maggie, this is [….] you & Maby ought to have been in ….’; the print has superb clarity and is in fine condition, as is the mount.

An amazing Australian vernacular photograph from the Federation era! The detail in this amateur shot is incredible: from the eccentric hairdo of the lady on the left, to the bootlaces and spotted and striped tie of the young man on the right, the icing on the homemade cakes, the glass sugar bowl, the crocheted table cloth, and the patina on the lacquered bamboo tripod table.