Lot 4 Antique French Wedding Photos 1900-1920 Roubaix Studio Portraits Soldier Masquerade Children Ephemera

Collection of four original early 20th-century photographs documenting the evolution of wedding photography and studio portraiture in Northern France.

Object History: These pieces originate from Roubaix, a key industrial center of the era. Notably featuring the work of A. Wagnies (35, Rue de Lorraine), a photographer specialized in artistic portraits and enlargements, active during the Belle Époque. The collection includes an unusual record of social customs, such as simulated 'child weddings' for carnival and the sobriety of post-war unions.

Technical Details:
- Period: 1900-1920 (Belle Époque and interwar period).
- Technique: Studio photography in silver gelatin and sepia tones.
- Dimensions: Approximately 10 cm x 15 cm (3.9 x 5.9 inches) for standard formats.
- Material: Period photographic paper and thick cardstock mounts.
- Condition: Excellent conservation for its age. Features natural patina, stable sepia tones, and minimal edge wear. One piece includes handwritten date '13/7/1901' and another '1919'.

Lot Contents:
1. Cabinet portrait of children dressed as bride and groom (1901).
2. Bride in traditional dark dress with long veil (c. 1900).
3. Uniformed soldier portrait with his wife (1919).
4. Large format portrait with Art Deco aesthetics (1920s).

Collectible Value: Historical document for costume researchers, genealogists, or collectors of early-century French ephemera.