“Orna Parcha," Confederate Vivandiere

A hand-tinted carte-de-visite that appears to be titled “Orna Parcha” in ink. Obverse bears the ink inscription “Colored by Mrs. Byron” and a very bold back mark of Montgomery, Alabama photographer Shaw's Southern Gallery. The iconography of the back mark seems significant but is unknown. The subject of this unusual CDV wears a baggy velvet outfit adorned with braid, a large sash, hat with plume or other decoration, and holds a sword. A duplicate CDV is held by the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The uniform might indicate association with a Confederate military unit.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Antique Photography, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, CDV]