Can anyone identify the woman in this 1930s photo?

[Warbaby]

She looks vaguely familiar and the photo has the look of the sort of portraits that are done for book jackets and publicity photos, but I just can't place her and I can't make sense of her signature. Anyone recognize her?

Here's a close-up of the inscription and signature:

 

[Fletch]

Well isn't it obvious? It's the famous...uh...woman D. MariesW9que.
I think she was the grommet heiress, you know the one, and was later indicted. For...glassblowing. A lady didn't do such things then.

Yeah, that's it.
lol

 

[dhermann1]

Notes on pronunciation: That's a silent 9.
But seriously, folks, what it the provenance of this photo? That might afford a clue.

 

[Vintage Betty]

I think her first name is Marian. Note the spelling; it isn't typical.

What is the name of the photographer penciled in the right hand corner?

She is wearing a very expensive imported jacket for the period. It could be a staged photo (photographer's studio) or an indication she was a woman of wealthy means.

Vintage Betty

 

[MrNewportCustom]

Following VB's logic, if the "D" is not her first name initial, perhaps it stands for "Dame."

Maybe she's Dame Marian Tique?


Lee

 

[Warbaby]

Something about her signature seems Spanish or Latin American. That exotic jacket with its Japanese or Chinese design influence, combined with her intellectual pose and expression makes me think she may have been an artist or writer.

 

[Tomasso]

Frank Lloyd Wright in drag.

 

[Doh!]

Well, now you're just being silly.



It's obviously Wm. Randolph Hearst in drag:

http://timesunion.com/specialreports/tu150/overview/graphics/overview_hearst.jpg

 

[Mike in Seattle]

And the signature's really in code. It's D. for Davies and the rest is Marion-esque, and obviously taken from a heretofore undisclosed costume party at San Simeon...

 

[contentmentfarm]

The jacket is Chinese and they were popular in the 20s and 30s. I'm no help on the name though.

 

[pretty faythe]

just reading her inscription, "in" and "and" her letters don't close, so trying to read the letters in her name is a challenge. Her first name looks like Maris to me....ya know.

 

[Mojito]

"D" is possibly "Dr"...and the first name may even be "Maureen" (although Marion looks a bit more likely).

 

[Brian Sheridan]

Grandma?

 

[Murph351]

*Bump*

Dang, this women's face is still haunting me.
Anyone have any more clues?

 

[TessTrueheart]

*Bump*

Dang, this women's face is still haunting me.
Anyone have any more clues?

She haunts me too and I've tried googling every interpretation of that signature I can think of and come up with nothing. Someone please solve this mystery, it's driving me mad.

 

[SamMarlowPI]

could it be Montessori? maybe...er...maybe not...lol
i think her first name was Maria...

 

[Fletch]

Maria Montessori 1870-1952

Not a strong resemblance, tho the age and style of dress aren't far off. I'd also have trouble getting Montessori out of that signature, and she never used another name.

 

[Warbaby]

She's been driving me crazy for five or six years. There's something beyond the ordinary about her and something familiar - I'm sure I've seen another photo of her sometime in the past. To me, her "intellectual" pose suggests author or philosopher - or maybe scientist. The closest I can come to deciphering her name is possibly Mariah, and to my eyes, the first letters of her last name look like Iq..., which, if that's indeed what it is, would likely make her Spanish or Latin American. I think the photographer's name is Alda Jourdan, but it's not very clear, either.

Ah well...if I show her to enough people, sooner or later someone will recognize her and say "My God, that's ______ ______ and she's inscribed the photo to her secret lover Clara _______."

 

[Murph351]

Interesting.
Found a reference to an artist Alda Jourdan (1889-1962) from Portland.
Where did you find the photo?
I'm still cursing you for posting this thread

 

[Idledame]

My gosh, she DOES look like Hearst! I thought it was Mariann at first but that loopy thing must be the cross of a "T" ..Mariett, Marieta? Marieth? first letter of last name looks like an I...Igues...Igna? Interesting that of 4 "i"s she only dotted one. I would also say not european from the 1. My european raised relatives (who went to school in the early 1900's) all made their 1's kinda like this: /\ . The jacket looks artistic, but she looks so tired, you feel she must have been a scientist working night and day on something.