Portrait of a Gentleman

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Portrait of a Gentleman

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0063-0064

Description

Sepia-toned albumen print mounted on dark charcoal cabinet card stock with elaborate embossed scrollwork and studio imprint along lower margin. Bust-length portrait with soft vignette fade at lower portion.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Cabinet Card

Category

1890's, man, Mustache, Tie, Victorian

Made/Created

Studio

A.S. Schreckengost

Date made

1888 - 1898

Time Period

Victorian

Place

* Untyped Place

Pennsylvania

Notes

Photographer: A.S. Schrecktengost Successor to C.C. Shadle Kittanning, Pennsylvania 👔 Collar Very high detachable collar Narrow collar band with pointed front This height and stiffness are more typical of the late Victorian era than the Edwardian period. 🎀 Bow Tie Compact, symmetrical bow tie Worn high at throat Bow ties were particularly common in the 1880s–1890s. 🧥 Lapels Narrow lapels Slight edge piping or light edging detail Structured tailoring 🧔 Facial Hair Full mustache without beard Well-groomed but not exaggerated handlebar Mustache-only fashion peaks in the 1890s. 🖨 Mount Design The ornate embossed typography and “Successor to C.C. Shadle” imprint suggest a transitional business period. That wording often appears when studios changed ownership — typically documented in the late 19th century.

Ethnography

Notes

This gentleman appears to be: Late 20s to 40s Respectably dressed middle class Possibly professional or merchant The formal bust pose and strong gaze suggest this was likely: A milestone portrait Business card portrait Possibly for duplication (“Duplicate Furnished” suggests ordering copies for distribution) The Kittanning connection links this to Pennsylvania’s coal and river trade economy of the late 19th century.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Feb 14, 2026

Notes

Good tonal retention Mild surface speckling Mount edge wear consistent with handling No visible emulsion lifting

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This late Victorian cabinet portrait depicts a mustached gentleman wearing a high detachable collar and compact bow tie, hallmarks of 1890s masculine fashion. Produced in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, by A.S. Schrecktengost, successor to C.C. Shadle, the ornate mount reflects the flourishing small-town studios that documented middle-class identity during America’s industrial expansion.

Create Date

February 14, 2026