Can anyone please help me with this photograph possibly french

[Kevin Burrell]

Hi - strictly speaking this is not a photograph, but actually an Ambrotype (image on a plate of glass) which followed the Daguerrotype - so started I believe, around 1850. According to my mother, this was a relative of hers - and the lady in the picture was French - not sure if there is anyway of identifying if that statement is true? I can find no French relatives on the maternal side, so either Mum was misinformed, or it is a more distant relative in an area I have yet to research.

Either way - any information anyone can glean from this picture (clothing style etc.) would be welcome - appreciate there is not much to go on!!

[Treetotal]

I think this is late 1850s ...it's lovely and it does have a french look about it....maybe Breton..just a hunch.
Carol

[Gadget]

Mid parting, and photo style are mid 1850s-1860.

I'm not sure that it looks French as have seen Uk photos that are similar.

Gadget

[Gadget]

Oh dear - quoted by accident 

[jim1]

All I can see from this is she's unmarried.

[Mike Morrell (NL)]

I was just curious about how this Ambrotype would look if it was a bit brighter so I cleaned it up a bit.

Less authentic, of course, but I like all the details in her clothes.

Mike

[Kevin Burrell]

Thanks all for your views - glad we have a consensus of between 1855 and 1865 - it helps me with trying to narrow it down to who this could be - I think I am of the opinion she is mid-twenties (looks older, and today would probably say mid thirties - but it was a harder life back then!), so will be looking for someone born in the 1830 to 1840 range I guess,

Mike - thanks for this - I had a hard time scanning this - just did not realise how difficult it was to scan glass!! As it is so delicate I did not spend too long trying - it is back together in its velvet frame now and will not be taken apart again

[jim1]

I would say she's from a family that had a certain amount of disposable income as hand-tinted Ambrotypes were quite expensive & her Dolman looks very good quality.

[Kevin Burrell]

Good point Jim - I had read that about ambrotypes, but it did not quite sink in - Since the Starlings (the maternal line I think the photo comes from) were all labourers it would probably have to be a distant (very) relative - the other line (Parks) were also labourers that had come down south from Lancashire so same would apply. Mind you my Great Grandfather George Starling married Lily Orford - that sounds like a posh surname - think I will do some research on that!