Edwardian Cabinet Card Appraisal

Late Victorian/Edwardian Cabinet Card Portrait by Ch. Šmidt, Beroun

This is a typical late 19th to early 20th-century cabinet card photograph depicting a young woman in formal attire. The photograph is mounted on a heavy, dark-colored cardboard stock with rounded corners. The subject is posed in a vignettes style, wearing a high-necked, light-colored lace blouse or dress, common in the fashion of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her hair is styled in a soft, wavy updo characteristic of the period. At the bottom of the card, the photographer's information is prominently displayed in embossed gold or copper-colored script. On the left is the name 'Ch. Šmidt' and on the right the location 'Beroun'. In the center, there is an ornate crest or coat of arms featuring a double-headed eagle with a shield, suggesting a studio with royal patronage or perhaps an official provincial appointment within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, of which Beroun was then a part. The card shows significant signs of age and wear; the image itself has faded and displays 'silvering' or mirror-like oxidation in the darkest areas of the background. There are visible surface scratches and foxing (brown spotting) throughout the image and mount. The edges of the card show some fraying and corner wear, indicating long-term storage or handling.