Who were the Percier family?

This stunning collection of glass plate negatives was found in a charity shop in Hampshire. Charting the story of the Perciers and what may be their extended family from the 1890s to the 1920s, it captures the time of the Belle Époque, through the Great War and beyond.

Can you see any clues in these photographs that could add to this story? Can you help find the Perciers and reconnect these images with their surviving decendants? 

What do we know about this collection?

We are not sure if this collection was part of a family donation that relates to chemist and photographer Marmaduke Richards, which included material from pharmaceutical chemist William Maskew, who had strong connections to Paris – see The Paris Albums. Marmaduke Richards died in 1921, so as this collection includes material from 1926, it quite possible has nothing to do with him. Nothing more is known about the photographs, other than all the boxes say they are of the Percier family.

This considerable collection includes fifty one 9 x 10cm plates; thirty eight 6 x 9cm plates, ten 10.5 x 4.5cm stereoscopic plates (that are annotated on the box as having been taken in 1926) and one 6 x 9cm film negative.

The Percier family photographs

Highlights and clues

The central characters of the collection would be this couple who we assume are the grandparents of the three girls and boy. Probably taken on the day of the confirmation of the oldest grandchild. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Quite out of character from the other photographs this intriguing image shows a man working with clay. Isw this a hobby or his profession? Is there a link to the quirky vase in the flower arrangement shot?  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Are these soldiers from the 124th Infantry Regiment? © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

One of the girls wearing what looks to be a Légion d’honneur award. The award was created in 1915. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Another, more playful, photograph showing the Légion d’honneur, this time worn by the boy. © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

The newspapers suggest this photograph was taken on a significant day, perhaps Armistice.  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Detail of Armee et Marine newspaper?  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Detail of Paris newspaper.  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Is this the rear of the family home in Paris?  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

Is this one of the family’s domestic staff? Is it possible to work out the location? historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.

The box containing the stereoscopic images with annotations. Can you help decipher the writing?  © historyreunited.org / Hunter Gatherer Ltd.