Xmas [Christmas] celebrations - Bill Gamble and his festive bottle, 25 December 1908. From the album: Family photographs [1907-1909] | Collections Online

item details

NameXmas [Christmas] celebrations - Bill Gamble and his festive bottle, 25 December 1908. From the album: Family photographs [1907-1909]

ProductionLeslie Adkin; photographer; 1908; Levin

Classificationphotographic prints, gelatin silver prints, portraits

Materialssilver, photographic gelatin, photographic paper

Materials Summaryblack and white photograph, gelatin silver print

Techniquesblack-and-white photography

DimensionsImage: 72mm (width), 93mm (height)

Registration NumberO.047587

Credit lineGift of Derek Noble, 1997

Overview

William Adkin's son Leslie took this photograph of farm worker Bill Gamble relaxing with a drink - his 'festive bottle' apparently contained rum. Ferns decorating the doorway behind him are another sign of the holiday season. These were a local alternative to traditional European Christmas decorations such as holly, mistletoe and ivy.

Bill Gamble
William (Bill) Gamble began working for William Adkin on his farm Cheslyn Rise, near Levin, on 8 December 1908. Shearing was under way, so this was a busy period on the farm. However, 25 December was a public holiday so farm workers had an opportunity to enjoy a day off.

One of four
This photograph was one of four taken by Leslie Adkin on Christmas Day. The others were of the 'big group' that gathered on the farm to celebrate Christmas, Leslie's sister Dora sitting on a ladder, and the game of tennis played that afternoon. In his diary Leslie Adkin noted that it was 'One of the pleasantest Xmases we have had at Cheslyn Rise'.