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Picking up sixpences at Smithfield 1902
Centuries-old tradition, when 21 sixpences were placed upon a flat gravestone in the churchyard at St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, London, on Good Friday morning. Gathered are twenty-one aged widows with the church officials and a few spectators. Photograph showing a widow kneeling and picking up one of the sixpences, on rising she receives a freshly-baked hot-cross bun from another gentleman, who then assists her to walk over the stone, subsequently each widow is presented with a penny.
1902
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Media ID 23041454
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Annual Annually Bartholomew Ceremonies Ceremony Charity Churchyard Custom Distribution Friday Gift Good Nov17 Penny Picking Places Smithfield Tomb Tombs Tradition Traditions Widow Widows 1902 Sixpences
17"x15" (43x38cm) Premium Frame
FSC real wood frame with double mounted 10x8 print. Double mounted with white conservation mountboard. Frame moulding comprises stained composite natural wood veneers (Finger Jointed Pine) 39mm wide by 21mm thick. Archival quality Fujifilm CA photo paper mounted onto 1mm card. Overall outside dimensions are 17x15 inches (431x381mm). Rear features Framing tape to cover staples, 50mm Hanger plate, cork bumpers. Glazed with durable thick 2mm Acrylic to provide a virtually unbreakable glass-like finish. Acrylic Glass is far safer, more flexible and much lighter than typical mineral glass. Moreover, its higher translucency makes it a perfect carrier for photo prints. Acrylic allows a little more light to penetrate the surface than conventional glass and absorbs UV rays so that the image and the picture quality doesn't suffer under direct sunlight even after many years. Easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Please note that, to prevent the paper falling through the mount window and to prevent cropping of the original artwork, the visible print may be slightly smaller to allow the paper to be securely attached to the mount without any white edging showing and to match the aspect ratio of the original artwork.
FSC Real Wood Frame and Double Mounted with White Conservation Mountboard - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 24.4cm x 20.5cm (9.6" x 8.1")
Estimated Product Size is 43.1cm x 38.1cm (17" x 15")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with landscape (horizontal) orientation to match the source image.
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the centuries-old tradition of Picking up the Sixpences at Smithfield, which took place on Good Friday morning in 1902. The scene unfolds in the churchyard of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, London, where twenty-one aged widows have gathered around a flat gravestone. Church officials and a few spectators look on as the first widow kneels and reaches out to pick up one of the sixpences that have been placed upon the stone. The sixpence tradition was an annual charity event, with each widow receiving a penny and a hot-cross bun as a symbolic gesture of support and solidarity. The sixpence represented a small financial assistance, while the hot-cross bun was a symbol of the resurrection and the coming of spring. The widows, dressed in their Sunday best, appear solemn and reverent as they participate in this time-honored ceremony. The gentleman assisting the widow in the foreground offers her a freshly-baked hot-cross bun as a gesture of kindness and encouragement. This photograph offers a glimpse into the early 20th century and the rich cultural traditions that were an integral part of British life. The image is a poignant reminder of the community spirit that existed in England during this period, as people came together to support those in need and uphold cherished customs.
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