This CDV of an American
Indian, photographed by the well known New York City Bowery photographer, Chas. Eisenmann,
with his imprint on the reverse. Eisenmann's works date from 1870
to the 1890's and he was famous for photographing the "freaks" of the
circuses, sideshows and living museums of the Bowery according to the Ronald G. Becker Collection at Syracuse University.
Although this sepia image is faint, worn and frayed it is important due
to the social implications, as the American Indian was an oddity, not only to
be photographed in the East, but to be put on display (as P.T. Barnum and
others did, circa late 1860s.)
Pastel colors on CDV's
became popular starting around 1869 which would put this photo in the 1870's
timeline. Too bad we don't know this young Native American's name or
story.
