Featured Mt. Kenya - Kathleen Firmin

Any thoughts about this picture, please.
The size is: 25x30cm

 

Nice old picture. Kathleen Firman was the wife of Arthur Firman, also a photographer.

http://www.bufordskenya.com/photos_index.htm

 

I found a few auction records for the sale of photographs by Arthur, but none by Kathleen.

 

It would have helped if I spelled Firmin correctly!

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/i...h-Kathleen-Firmin-No-103-1960,language,E.html

 

Well, that single postcard isn't much help, is it. I'm wondering whether she didn't sign her own name until after his death in 1957. I found a Google Books entry that implied that she continued the business in Nairobi.

 

Thank you so much for all the time you took into researching these details. Do you think it is an original and that it would be worth contacting the "National Museum of African Art" in D.C.? Maybe since Arthur Firmin seemed to be a very important photografer for the British Army during the WW2? I don't know if his wife could have been important aswell? Or maybe because it shows how life used to be back then?

 

I don't know whether this really qualifies as African art, but with her signature it may qualify as a print of the image that she specifically handled. You might want to take it out of the frame to see if it is stamped on the reverse with the company name. Hard to say when the image was captured. It's hand-tinted, which may also have a date impact (but I don't know what that might be.)

 

One other thing. Jetro Chambers, Westlands is currently a business park off Westlands Road in Nairobi, so this was definitely framed in the right place.

 

Hi, Kathleen was my Grandmother, and although not as well known as her husband, Arthur, for her photography, she was arguably equally as skilled. After his death in 1955 she continued the gallery and studio in Nairobi that they had started, and mastered handcolouring his prints. She continued her own photography and I would say this would be definitely one of hers. She also trained other people to handcolour the prints, and Linda Monaco, who now has many of the still existing prints, did many of these.

 

Thank you for coming to post about your grandmother's art. She was very talented.

 

Wow, thank you so much for your reply! This is great info!
When I saw this picture at a store, I fell instantly in love with it! I just wonder around what time she might have took it?

Would there be any chance that I could contact Linda Monaco? And also, would you mind if I could contact you directly?

 

I have an original photo that sadly I haven’t taken care of- from Arthur Firman. My grandparents went on several African safaris in the 1940’s and 1950’s and I assume they purchased it then. Who could I contact to find out more about it?
It is titled “world’s end” With three little boys facing out of the world from the top of the peak of probably Kilimanjaro but I’m not sure

 

Welcome, @Vidabonita ! If you start a new thread about your photo and include some images, people here may be able to help you with it.

 

What do you mean by "original photo"?
Kathleen Firmin (known to her friends as "Kathy") was a great friend of mine, and my family, in the '70s and early '80s.
She ran a very successful Fine Arts Gallery on Mama Ngina Street (which later moved a block away) dealing in photographic prints (both monochrome and hand-tinted), limited edition prints, and original paintings. The mainstay of the gallery's business was superbly printed and hand-tinted prints of her late-husband's extensive catalogue of full plate and half plate negatives. Therefore, while the negatives and plates were "original", the prints were not.
"World's End" was one of Firmin's Gallery most popular prints, and although for sales purposes it was credited to Arthur, Kathy told me that when they were on shoots together (which could last for several days), they did not keep a record of who shot what, and she firmly believed that "World's End" was one of her's!

 

Hi to all you Firmin fans. I'm a kiwi who lived in Nairobi from 1995-1998. I used to frequent the Firmins photographic shop which at that time was run by two Kenyan women who did the hand colouring (back in the day) of the prints.
I purchased a lot of prints and also some books that I understand were owned by the Firmins. I was a Cameraman/Video Director back then so I was drawn to the beautiful work that Arthur and Kathleen did.

 

I just love the twists and turns one simple posting can take!!! The new members popping in here regarding the Firmins photography is amazing!!!! Fascinating following this!!!

 

Hi P Arthur, I'm not sure how to contact you but I have a couple of personal artifacts from Arthur and Kathleen Firmin that you might be interested in. you can contact me on Deleted if you want to chat... best Alastair