What kind of building is this and where??

[Ninatoo]

I recall reading somewhere about the poses in photos and how it can be an aid in dating them.  I know it is hard to tell for sure, but it seems that all the photos are head and shoulder shots.  I wonder when they were in vogue.

The larger photo on the centre table on the left has a diagonally striped frame.  It is the only thing in the room that looks a bit odd to me besides the thing in the corner (which to me looks like a Pope's cassock from the back...not that I am saying it IS!!!).  Also the large picture on the right doesn't look like a religious photo to me, since the lady seems to be bare headed...and is she showing a bit of leg...maybe a shepard girl or something?

Intriguing photo!

Nina

[tomkin]

  I've only just seen this topic and unfortunately haven't had time
to read all the replies.  At first glance it looks to me like a temporary
 structure with possibly a canvas roof. It is the type of experiment
that an Architect would demonstrate at an exhibition maybe to demonstrate
the type of houses that people would live in at some future date. It is a typical
Victorian scene. Throw as much junk into a room as possible. Oh dear!, I've
just looked around and discovered that I must be a Victorian.

        Tomkin

      
    

[martianuk]

I wonder if the light source is coming through the actual ceiling itself...ie.the material used???..just a thought...and what is that object in the ceiling above the alcove at the end.

Derek.

This was mentioned back on the first page. A couple of people speculated that is was an eagle, but, to quote myself:

I have to say I'm not sure about the 'eagle'. To me, it looks like a dome that extends up into ceiling with something hangin down in the middle (the white part). The perspective gives it the oval shape and the cut out gives the shape of wings! I've seen a smililar thing before.

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Interesting thinking on the museum. Although surely the dating on the photo doesn't work out with this - i.e. the room seems to be 'typical' of the era we estimate the photo to be taken in, so you wouldn't put what would be a modern room (of the time) in a museum - it wouldn't be history yet! Probably not the best way to explain what I mean :S

Nice researching there gadget! I need to check with Kirsty when she's around, but I believe that photo does in fact show the possible owner of the glass negative - I can't say for sure though.

Ooh, that's something to look into Nina - dating the photo by using the others in the picture!

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I've got to agree Denn, the lighting in the photo is certainly intriguing me - especially now you've pointed out all those odd shadows that would need multiple light sources to be cast. A bounce flash, bounced of the ceiling might explain this, as the ceiling is curved, it would explain the various angles the light seems to come from. Also might explain why the original negative is pretty dark and had to be lightened?

Keep the amazing ideas coming people - Kirsty and I are really keen to get to the bottom of this and are always calling to each other when we notice a reply!

Hadyn

EDIT: Tomkin, I'm not sure the temporary ceiling idea of yours works with regard to the stone looking wall (particular that mural/panel) and the two doors at the back of the room. I could be wrong though, but that's just my reasoning! Also, if you have the time, it's well worth reading what everyone has had to say about the image!

[Tuscany]

Oh dear!  I was hoping to get on the puter today and see the answer.

I still think it's a cellar which has been converted to a private chapel, but how about this?

A date of 1880/90's has been mentioned could those two sisters have been (in their more stable days) nurses in the Crimea or Boer wars, and was this hastily converted accomodation for them which had perhaps been used to store things in the past and they have utilised the items to furnish the abode?

Was it in some stately home or large house that had been turned into a hospital/convalescent home and was this picture taken to show the parents of said two ladies where they were living?

Just another couple of cats amongst the pigeons!!!!

[Sisterjane]

Hi All

Ive not added anything to this thread simply because I aint got a clue about photography and churches etc but its just facinating reading and the pics are well spookey.

Wonder where Liverpool Annie is.....its not like her to miss something like this.....

Joe

[phrishy]

Absolutely  no expertise here at all, but just commenting.   

Could the blob on the ceiling be caused by the shadow from the light, could the shape in front of this shadow be the light? From the semi-circle in the middle pointing upwards slightly widening to the top seems like a shape, not just ceiling.

Why is there such a dark shadow behind the ghost?

...... yes I do know it's not a ghost!!! but haven't found a better description for that shape.

It also feels like an attic to me, rather than basement.

[tomkin]

Also the large picture on the right doesn't look like a religious photo to me, since the lady seems to be bare headed...and is she showing a bit of leg...maybe a shepard girl or something?

  I think it is a reproduction of a famous painting called Lady at Toilet. (Or Something) Toilet in this case
 meaning Lady washing her legs.  Can't remember who the artist is. ( But why prop it up on a
stuffed bird instead of hanging it on a wall?)

       Tomkin

[pompeyboy]

The photo was once in the house of two spinster sisters (b 1896 and 1898ish), one of which was a spiritualist/clairvoyant (via palm reading) and believed in all things weird and the supernatural.

I'm still on the tent/marquee route,maybe it was put on the end of a building/house where the good lady practised her palm reading to her customers and the doors at the back at least i think they are doors led into the main building..yeah i know silly idea really...or is it

Steve

[pompeyboy]

Tomkin..maybe it would be hard to hang anything on canvas?

Steve