Quartet of ladies for dating please.

[JenB]

I'd love to have a date, please, for this super photograph. I love the lace jabots.

I can find James Fairclough as 22 year old photographer in Berwick on Tweed in 1891. In the two subsequent censuses he's resident in Crook, County Durham.

Thanks for any help 

[Gadget]

Hi Jennifer

The back and ladies' neck attire suggests a date of mid to late 1870s. It could possibly be very early 1880s but I think the earlier time frame would be most likely 

Gadget

[JenB]

Thanks Gadget.
So do you think this is an older photo put onto a newer mount, bearing in mind the age of James Fairclough (born 1869)? Interestingly I see that his sister was a 'photographic printer' in 1881 (RG11/5047/57/5)

[Gadget]

It's a mid 1870s-1880s mount as well, Jennifer - could they have had a branch at Crook earlier 

See the mounts here:

http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~victorianphotographs/time/time.htm

(click on the time period below the back examples)


Gadget

Added - the plainer top graphic isn't quite right though   

[Gadget]

Just been looking at the family in 1881 - it's very odd.

I wonder if he chose an 'old style' backing.  I don't think the ladies are later than 1890 but the fancy neckwear was definitely 1870s and by the 1890s the sleeve tops were getting a little puff up.

Gadget

[Gadget]

In the 1891, James is a lodger. I wonder whether he was a travelling photographer working from Crook?

[Gadget]

Sorry, me again!  I've just found a pic of a woman wearing a a lace jabot in 1898-ish with flattish sleeve tops but I can't explain the backing 

Add - the darker mount could indicate a later date but an old style back

(I'll PM Jim! )

[Gadget]

Not sure if Jim's going to come on but he reckons it's on the cusp of the sleeve change, which explains the confusion  - late 1890s-1900. Dark cardstock 1890s.  I still think that the backing design is not what I'd expect for that date.

[JenB]

Gadget, very many thanks again for the time you've spent on this, and apologies for the delay in coming back to you.

His eldest son, James Philip, was born in Crook in 1896, so looks like he was certainly there from mid-1890's onwards, which fits nicely with the dates you now suggest.

Thanks again for helping, I'm very grateful. I think it's a super photo. I usually try to limit myself to Hexham photographers, but couldn't resist this one