Antiqphoto

For the last 35 years we have been buying and selling original, large format, 19th century photographs. Our emphasis has been on ethnographic images from Japan, China, the Indian sub-continent and the Pacific Rim, and topographical emphasis on the same countries, with the addition to North & South America.
For us, the most important thing is the image, not who took the photograph. If we know who the photographer was, then that is a bonus. Our general rule is to only buy photographs that we personally like and can live with for a lifetime. We have traveled extensively in the quest to find great images and welcome inquiries by email to antiqphoto@gmail.com.
Our clients include major museums, universities and collectors from around the world.
Ethnographic Photography
eth·nog·ra·phy – a branch of anthropology dealing with the scientific description of individual cultures.
During the 19th century photographers traveled the world to capture images of exotic lands and diverse people. The new medium of photography gave these adventurers the opportunity to bring back to their own lands, images that were indescribable unless you had something to show for it. Photography provided that opportunity. This replaced written descriptions and sketches with the truthful and unbiased eye of the camera.
In this area of photography it is possible to see how individual cultures looked and lived. By studying these images we have a better knowledge of the journey taken over thousands of years, and how for some, nothing had really changed over the millennia.
It was a great challenge to obtain many of these photographs. The photographers had to approach an often hostile group of people who had no understanding of the camera, or the ethnicity of the man behind it. Convincing the sitter that there was no danger or to keep perfectly still was often problematic. Payment of some kind may have helped, but this strange person hiding behind a cloth, crouched over a large box, talking in a strange tongue, did little to help allay the fears of the subject. Indeed there are stories of photographers who traveled to a remote location, never to be heard of again. There are other stories of photographers who literally purchased the subject for a few coins and after producing the image abandoned them.
If it were not for these pioneering photographers we would have no idea how the people of the world looked a hundred or more years ago. Today we have nations of many ethnic backgrounds, but in simpler times of the 19th century, all of these peoples had their own ethnic identities.
In our specialty of Ethnographic Photography our emphasis is on the disappearing people of the world, due to colonization and homogenization of nationalities. These images are as fascinating today as they were a hundred or more years ago, seeing the diverse cultures in their dress, tools, weapons, food and environment.
Upcoming Auctions from Antiqphoto
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Bidder Reviews for Antiqphoto (79)
4.5 out of 5.0 Stars
8 Latest Top ReviewsSee All
StevenToronto, CA
Jan 31, 2022
BrianTurlock, CA
Oct 23, 2021
Conscientious Seller w/Lovely Images
The photograph was accurately described and shipped promptly. An excellent seller and image!
DaveChicago, Illinois
Aug 27, 2021
garrieTualatin, OR
Jun 28, 2021
great
only one small oddity, the items were sent by standard post as instructed by the insurer. It arrived. So no issue. just a little nervous in the interim.
AndreaS. Giovanni In Persiceto, Italy
Jun 26, 2021
LisaJuneau, AK
May 30, 2021
FRANKAurora, Canada
May 10, 2021
Fair price and great communication
pleasure doing business with Mr. Davis. The photos comes exactly as described, shipping is fast, packaging is nice, would definitely buy from him again.
Past Auctions from Antiqphoto
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Curator's Choice - Photographs 1880 - 1945Started May 14, 2022 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Apr 09, 2022 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Historical Photographs of 19th Century U.S.A.Started Mar 19, 2022 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Original Photographs. opening bids $10 - $100Started Feb 12, 2022 1:00 PM EST
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Jan 15, 2022 5:00 PM EST
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Curators Choice - 19th Century PhotographsStarted Jan 15, 2022 1:00 PM EST
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Nov 06, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Curators Choice - 19th Century PhotographsStarted Nov 06, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Oct 02, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Original Photographs - opening bids $25 - $75Started Oct 02, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Sep 11, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Original 19th Century Photographs of JapanStarted Aug 14, 2021 2:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Original 20th Century Photographs & AlbumsStarted Aug 14, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Jul 17, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Photographs from George Raum Collection c1880Started Jul 17, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Photographs with opening bids from $10 - $50Started Jun 05, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Russia - Original 19th Century PhotographsStarted Jun 05, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted May 08, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Photographs with opening bids from $10 - $65Started May 08, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Curators Choice - 19th Century PhotographsStarted Apr 10, 2021 5:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Original Photographs - opening bids $25 - $75Started Apr 10, 2021 1:00 PM EDT
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Photographs with opening bids from $10 - $35Started Mar 13, 2021 5:00 PM EST
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Nudes - Photogravures and Other ProcessesStarted Mar 13, 2021 1:00 PM EST
Indio, CA, USAuction Ended
Record Auction Results for Antiqphoto
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