Not currently on display at the V&A

Photograph

1897 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This photograph is part of a collection that helps tell the story of a family who, over four generations, travelled from Europe to India and back again. In the late nineteenth century India became a popular destination for emigrating European Jews. Colin Ormond Mater and his wife Ella Evangelin moved from Germany to Calcutta in the 1890s. Colin was a reporter, while his wife Ella was a busy mother. Together they had seven children, the youngest being Kathleen Theresa Mayer, the subject of this photograph.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Black and white photographic print
Brief description
Photograph of Kathleen Theresa Mayer as a baby, by unknown studio, black and white gelatin print, India 1897
Physical description
Black and white studio photograph shows a young girl (Kathleen) sitting in an ornate chair. To the left of her is a large potted plant. She is looking straight to the camera and is wearing a white dress. She has curly hair. On the reverse of the photograph, someone has written "1897?" and "Clorie?" in pencil.
Dimensions
  • Height: 100mm
  • Width: 73mm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
1897? Clorie?
Credit line
Given by Christobel Mary Spencer
Object history
Donors' note: "1. Kathleen as baby 1897"
The Mayer Family
The Jewish people were being persecuted with many special laws being laid down making life for them extremely difficult. Their migration started with single people, gradually increasing in the 1890s to entire families. India became a popular place amongst European Jews in which to migrate. Colin Ormond Mater with his wife Ella Evangelina, both Christian and Jewish, moved from Germany to Calcutta, India. Colin was a reporter, while his wife Ella was a busy mother. Together they had seven children, the youngest being Kathleen Theresa Mayer.
Summary
This photograph is part of a collection that helps tell the story of a family who, over four generations, travelled from Europe to India and back again. In the late nineteenth century India became a popular destination for emigrating European Jews. Colin Ormond Mater and his wife Ella Evangelin moved from Germany to Calcutta in the 1890s. Colin was a reporter, while his wife Ella was a busy mother. Together they had seven children, the youngest being Kathleen Theresa Mayer, the subject of this photograph.
Collection
Accession number
B.29-2014

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Record createdJuly 17, 2014
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