Photograph: Waino and Plutano
Image
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Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/110002:263
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Title |
Title
Title
Photograph: Waino and Plutano
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Origin Information |
Origin Information
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Parent Item | |||||
Resource Type |
Resource Type
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Digital Origin |
Digital Origin
reformatted digital
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Description |
Description
Carte de visite of Waino and Plutano (sometimes spelled Plutanor). The two sit on a single plush chair. Waino looks off camera to the left, Plutano looks downward on the right. They both wear long stockings, buckled shoes, shorts, and tops with some form of plaid at the front. Plutano rests his feet on an ottoman. Text underneath reads "Waino and Plutano. Aged about 50 years. Weight 45 pounds each." Waino and Plutano, billed as the Wild Men of Borneo, were the brothers Hiram (1825-March 16, 1905) and Barney (1827-May 31, 1912) Davis who were born in England and Ohio respectively. The two brothers were engaged with P.T. Barnum at both the American Museum and his later circuses. Their story of origin in Borneo was completely fabricated, and their act revolved around prodigious feats of strength, especially for their short size. The siblings were managed by others their entire lives due to mental disabilities, and were eventually withdrawn from exhibition by family members. Cartes de visite are photographs, usually mounted on a paper card and measuring about 2.5 by 4 inches, popular from about 1850 to the 1870s. Individuals could collect the cartes de visite of various celebrities from different backgrounds including entertainment and politics, or sit for portraits themselves. In the case of performers whose claim to fame was related to their physical appearance or a developmental disability, the staging of cartes de visite helped to emphasize their differences. This was accomplished by consciously manipulating clothing, props, the backdrop, and all other elements of the photograph in order to draw attention to their particular traits. The question of who was responsible for the staging, be it photographer, manager, or performer, varied greatly. Measures 2.5 x 4.25 inches. Photograph by W.S. Warren, 41 Winter Street, Boston. Dates to about 1850 to 1880.
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Genre
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Organizations |
Organizations
Creator (cre): W.S. Warren
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Use and Reproduction |
Use and Reproduction
This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. Images and data from The Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library are intended for public access and educational use only. This material is owned, held, or licensed by The Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library and is being provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. All other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires permission of the appropriate department of The Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library; fees may be applicable.
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Coordinates |
Coordinates
42.356249, -71.060307
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Note |
Note
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Local Identifier |
Local Identifier
PTB-am-ph006
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