Untitled [stereoscopic case containing two portraits] 1852 - 1858

This stereoscopic case holds two portraits taken by Jeremiah Gurney, an American photographer, between 1852 and 1858. Stereoscopic photography emerged in the mid-19th century as a popular way to experience three-dimensional images. Gurney’s "Untitled" stereoscopic case contains two oval portraits in a gold-toned frame, housed within a brown leather case. This case also includes the inscription, "Masoher’s Improved Stereoscope, Philada. Patent, March 8th, 1852", which is a reference to the popular stereoscopic viewing device of the time. The two portraits within this case offer a glimpse into the photographic practices and the social lives of the time.