This handmade antique lace and crocheted foldout photo album is lined in beautiful blue ribbon-silk and holds seven of an original eight late 19th century photographs of a mother and child. Presumably, the child was a boy. Lovingly crafted, the album’s finely detailed work and remarkable state of preservation testify to the importance of the new member of the family. As is generally understood of that period, no distinction in dress was made between boys and girls and the long robe and curls of our subject would have been usual in well-to-do society. We will never know if the last empty frame and never-filled space for several more should evoke a sense of sadness. We can see that at some point when the child was approximately two years of age, work on the album ceased and it was put away for good. There may be information regarding the sitters hidden on the back of the photographs, but to uncover it would irreparably damage the integrity of the piece. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: Furled, 3" x 4" x 1", Unfurled flat, 4" x 40".