1421 - Norway

Norway Collection of 10 albumen prints, mounted on contemporary cardboard backing. Depicting the Sámi, the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia. Circa 1870/1880. Each albumen print mounted on cardboard (some are double-sided photographs). Dimensions range from 9.6 x 13.6 cm to 26.5 x 18.3 cm. Two photographs show Sámi men and women in traditional kolt attire (belted tunic, pointed shoes, characteristic headdresses), some with dogs. One photograph shows two Sámi children in traditional clothing with a cradle board (komse). - Two larger group portraits of Sámi families with domesticated reindeer, pull sleds (pulka), and traditional equipment against a wintry or barren landscape backdrop. The depiction of reindeer herding, tent camps, and sled trains documents the traditional nomadic way of life of the Sámi (Reindeer Sami). Also included is a topographical view of a coastal town in northern Norway: a panoramic shot of a densely built-up wooden town on a fjord bay with a striking church tower, against a backdrop of barren, snow-covered mountains. Stylistically and topographically, this is most likely Hammerfest (Finnmark) prior to the devastating city fire of 1890, which destroyed a large portion of the historic wooden buildings, including the church. — Some have additional photographs on the reverse. Norway.—Collection of 10 albumen prints, mounted on contemporary card supports. Three of the photographs bear the contemporary handwritten pencil annotation “Lapons”—the exonym commonly used in 19th-century French for the Sámi, the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia. Circa 1870/1880. Each albumen print is mounted on card (some photographs are double-sided). Each measures 9.6 x 13.6 cm to 26.5 x 18.3 cm. Two images show Sámi men and women in traditional kolt attire (belted tunic, pointed shoes, characteristic headwear), some accompanied by dogs. One image shows two Sámi children in traditional clothing with a cradle board (komse). Two larger group portraits depict Sámi families with domesticated reindeer, draft sleds (pulka), and traditional equipment, set against a wintry or barren landscape. The depiction of reindeer husbandry, tent camps, and travel by sled documents the traditional nomadic economy of the reindeer-herding Sámi. In addition, there is a topographic view of a North Norwegian coastal town: a panoramic image of a densely built wooden town on a fjord bay, with a prominent church tower and bare, snow-covered mountains in the background. Stylistically and topographically, this can with a high degree of certainty be attributed to Hammerfest (Finnmark), prior to the devastating town fire of 1890, which destroyed a large portion of the historic wooden buildings, including the church. Some prints feature additional photographs on the reverse. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.