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Family with Man Wearing Masonic Apron
1875-1890
Maker not marked
USA
Tintype
overall: 3-7/16"h x 2-1/2"w
Museum Purchase
2018.012

Family with Man Wearing Masonic Apron. Tintype of an African American family. Man is wearing a dark suit, white shirt, cravat, and leather shoes with a painted and/or stenciled Masonic apron. Apron is square with rounded corners and a curved flap; light in color (possibly white cloth or lambskin) with cut fringe around edges; all-seeing eye at top with (likely) Fellow Craft order Masonic square and compasses in center and many other symbols of the Craft order surrounding (including, possibly, an open bible on an altar, a sword, a coffin, and an anchor). Beside him is an African American woman holding a young child. Woman wears dark-colored skirt and jacket with white shirt underneath and leather shoes; she appears to be holding an umbrella or parasol which the child is gripping. Child wears frilly white dress and stockings with dark leather shoes and is looking back over shoulder toward camera. Edges of photo (where backdrop and floor covering end) are dark; there is a black splotch in lower PL corner. PR corners clipped diagonally. Back of tintype is black with no markings.


This tintype is a portrait of a father, mother, and baby. The father wears a boldly painted Masonic apron trimmed with crisply pleated silk ribbon. The photo may have been taken to commemorate his joining or holding office in a Masonic lodge.