Late Victorian Post Mortem Cabinet Card

In a time before modern medicine and hospitals, maternal and infant mortality rates were high.  With the invention of photography it became common practice to photograph the deceased.  These images were kept as keepsakes, placed in the home as a memorial and tribute to their loved ones.  This practice was popular throughout the Victorian period but began to decline in the 1930s likely with how accessible photography became to the masses.  Most people were able to easily photograph themselves in life and there was less need to photograph people in death.  

This post mortem features a bittersweet image of a woman peacefully at rest with flowers clutched in her hands.  The photo is mounted onto ornately embossed heavy card stock.  Unfortunately, there is no information as to who this person is or who took the photograph.  Nevertheless, this is a wonderful memory of a custom that has long since passed and a great example for collectors.