A snapshot of the past: Highlights from Chiswick Auctions’ selection of affordable photographica

Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Affordable Photographica on March 30 features more than 350 lots to choose from. Here we showcase a few top objects going under the hammer at this live online auction.

Marilyn Monroe

One of the top estimated lots in the sale is this shot of Marilyn Monroe by Frank Powolny (1902-86). Taken in 1951 the gelatin silver print has an estimate of £500-800.

Piano Hands

This image of Solomon Cutner’s is from a series of three portraits of musicians taken by Georges Maiteny and offered with an estimate of £400-600 at Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Affordable Photographica on March 30.

This image of Solomon Cutner’s hands was taken by Georges Maiteny (1920-74) and is one of three portraits of musicians by the photographer estimated at £400-600. Cutner was a child prodigy from London’s East End who started performing in 1912 at age 10. This c.1950s photo is offered with shots of Herbert van Karajan and Aram Kachaturjan.

Train station

This photo of Kings Cross London, 1961, has an estimate of £300-500 at Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Affordable Photographica on March 30.

Colin Jones captured this image of the last of the steam trains to arrive at Kings Cross station in 1961. The next day, it was replaced by electric trains and a new era began. This particular image was printed c.1970 and is offered with an estimate of £300-500.

Unknown photographer

This photo of horses has an estimate of £100-150 at Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Affordable Photographica on March 30.

This image of horses is by an unknown photographer but the striking silver gelatin print still carries and estimate of £100-150.

Chimney Sweep

This image of a chimney sweep by Alfred Einsenstaedt has an estimate of £200-300 at Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Affordable Photographica on March 30.

Alfred Einsenstaedt (1898-1995) snapped this photo of a chimney sweep in Hamburg in 1979. It is offered along with a photo of women at a memorial with an estimate of £200-300. The prints are double-weighted paper and are later prints.