A.S. Schreckengost

circa 1895 – circa 1905

Victorian

Kittanning, Pennsylvania and A. S. & J. E. Schreckenost Apollo, Pennsylvania (Printed studio information along lower mount; includes “Duplicates Furnished” mark)

Good

Feb 6, 2026

Moderate overall fading with slight warm tonal shift Minor surface spotting and abrasions Light edge wear to the mount Image remains clear and well-defined, with facial features sharply visible

Description

This cabinet card portrait depicts an infant seated in a small upholstered chair, photographed at the turn of the twentieth century by the Pennsylvania studio of A. S. Schreckenost. Dressed in a flowing white gown adorned with bows and delicate trim, the child is presented with a formality that reflects contemporary ideals surrounding infancy, care, and family pride. Infant portraiture required careful staging, often employing specialized furniture and concealed supports to ensure stillness during exposure. The sitter’s direct gaze and composed posture suggest both the skill of the photographer and the growing technical advances of late nineteenth-century photography, particularly with the increasing use of gelatin silver prints. The printed assurance “Duplicates Furnished” speaks to the commercial and sentimental value of such images, which were frequently shared among family members. Despite the passage of time, this photograph remains a tender and compelling record of early childhood, preserving a moment of quiet attention and identity at the dawn of the modern photographic era.