Stunning c. 1880s-90s Shoe Makers Occupational Mounted Albumen Photo, Photographer AE Alden, Boston carved toy gun Some ingrained dirt

Some ingrained dirt

This is beautifully designed and very nicely crafted old handmade solitaire game board--engaging to play

I believe it is likely masonic

I can't help but think of it as a metaphor for plutocracy

Nails at the shoulder allow his arms to swing 360 degrees

Stunning c. 1880s-90s Shoe Makers Occupational Mounted Albumen Photo, Photographer AE Alden, Boston carved toy gun Some ingrained dirtI love an old occupational photo nothing like pride in profession on full display but have seen enough that it takes a really great one to stop me, which I think this one is. (See details.) An incredible array of faces, for sure (what a cast of characters!) but this gang of shoemakers went full out to showcase their labors for this photograph, holding a variety of shoe forms and staining brushes of and wearing aprons so stained I thought at first