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Offered here is a lot of four original post-mortem photographs documenting the same deceased woman laid out in an open casket, depicting the same subject from slightly varying angles and distances.
The subject is a middle-aged woman dressed in white, holding a rosary with a crucifix, with a dark satin ribbon bow at her chest and white chrysanthemums arranged nearby in a quilted white satin casket. The rosary identifies the deceased as Catholic, adding cultural and religious context to the memorial record.
Photo stock and casket style are consistent with mid-20th century production, approximately 1940s–1950s. All four prints are blank on the reverse — unidentified, no names or dates recorded.
The practice of commissioning multiple prints of post-mortem photographs for distribution among family members was common well into the mid-20th century, particularly in Catholic and immigrant communities. This lot almost certainly represents family memorial copies separated from their original context over time.
Condition: Generally good to very good. Minor age toning on some prints. Images clear and well-exposed throughout.
