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Somebodys Luggage (Miniature Wedding Album of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren), c. 1863
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Somebodys Luggage (Miniature Wedding Album of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren), c. 1863
Somebodys Luggage (Miniature Wedding Album of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren), c. 1863. This deluxe commercial souvenir commemorates the marriage of " General" Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton) and Lavinia Warren, performers at P. T. Barnums American Museum. Thumb was such a celebrity that the wedding pushed the Civil War off newspapers front pages for days. Cartes-de-visite of the wedding sold in the thousands; Brady even licensed the image to lithographers and other photographers. In one image, Lavinia holds a baby who was borrowed for the photo shoot to suggest her domestic skills. The locket is shaped like a miniature suitcase bearing the words " Somebodys Luggage, " the title of an 1862 story by Charles Dickens
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Media ID 19628321
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This print captures a truly extraordinary moment in history - the miniature wedding album of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren. In the midst of the Civil War, these two performers at P. T. Barnum's American Museum managed to steal the spotlight and dominate newspaper headlines for days with their union. The fame surrounding "General". Tom Thumb, also known as Charles Sherwood Stratton, was so immense that it temporarily overshadowed one of America's most significant conflicts. This deluxe commercial souvenir showcases twelve exquisite albumen prints enclosed within a brass photographic locket shaped like a miniature suitcase bearing the words "Somebody's Luggage" inspired by Charles Dickens' 1862 story. The images depict various moments from Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren's wedding ceremony, capturing their joyous celebration for posterity. Photographer Mathew Brady played an instrumental role in immortalizing this historic event by licensing his images to lithographers and other photographers. Thousands of cartes-de-visite featuring scenes from the wedding were sold, making this commemorative piece highly sought after. One particularly endearing image shows Lavinia holding a borrowed baby during the photo shoot, symbolizing her domestic skills as she embraces her new role as a wife. This photograph serves as a testament to not only love but also resilience during challenging times. Preserved by The Cleveland Museum of Art, this remarkable artifact offers us an intimate glimpse into an era where even amidst war and turmoil, love could captivate hearts across America.
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