Please date photos by J.C. Wiepel West Maitland NSW Australia

[BatUser]

I would be very grateful for any help in giving a date for the attached photo of a young lady/girl

We have 13 photos “Photographed  by J. C Wiepel West Maitland” (NSW Australia)
We also have 2 “J. C. Wiepel, photographic artist Narrabri” (NSW Australia)
The photographer was a travelling photographer and has taken photos in other locations in NSW and Queensland but I have not been able to find dates.
There is a date of 1881 for a photo in The State Library of Victoria Australia and the photo taken in West Maitland and it has the same design back as ours but type is red on cream card.
The photos we have are mainly of children and what looks like the building of the railway tracks and may be a post office.

Thank you

Terri

[BatUser]

Also two men with same back of photo.

[Seoras]

Hi Terri,not sure of the date,but I know from paying attention in class when Jim1 is on board,that the fan was often used to show chastity.

[BatUser]

Thank you Seoras
I love that bit of information. I did not know that.
I will pay more attention to what people are holding. It seems to be a code.
I have about 100 old photos and she is the only fan holder (says a lot about my ancestors.)

Terri

[chinakay]

Late 1870s I think for the young lady, maybe early 1880s but the skirt looks more like 70s. The men probably about the same but men are harder to date because their clothing didn't change rapidly. The oval vignette was a popular portrait style in the 70s.

It may be a sort of legend about the fan, but I have heard something about it meaning chastity or an unmarried status at least.

Cheers,
China

[BatUser]

Thank you very much China
The late 1870s works well for me with my family around West Maitland during that time but gone from there in the 1880s.

Chastity or unmarried status connected with the fan is interesting and the different photographers must have kept track of each other for it to be known now.

Regards

Terri

[jim1]

Agree with China.The girl's skirt is a little short & you wouldn't see an older lady wearing it like this but it's perfectly acceptable on a young woman of about 18.The fan is a bit of a theory of mine rather than anything else as I've seen it many times with unmarried women & only once with a married woman.There was a fascination with all things Japanese at this time & was a symbol of chastity.
The 2 chaps are about the same time,the curious thing here is the younger man is wearing a frockcoat & double-breasted waistcoat which was a bit old fashioned for someone his age & the older man is wearing a more up to date morning coat (I suspect).Maybe it's a hand-me-down.

jim

[BatUser]

Thank you Jim
The age for the girl I could not guess so I am happy with 18. That could be Ada  b 15 Jan 1860 the sister after her had dark hair and the other 2 were born 1869 and 1872 so very happy to have a name for the photo. I have one of her when she is older but photo is taken side on so I was not sure it was the same girl.
The two chaps had such different coats on but the bow ties looked similar.
When you said the younger of the two could have had a hand-me down frockcoat and vest I had a closer look and it does look to be too big for him.
With a date of late 1870’s I will try and work out the other photos of the children.
Many Thanks
Regards

Terri

[chinakay]

Did you notice the girl's spats?