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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: leesmob on Sunday 31 January 16 09:17 GMT (UK)
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I think this may be Agnes Aitken born 1841 in Sydney, Australia to Alexander Aitken and Agnes Crawford. Because of the awkward way she is holding her left hand (displaying her ring finger?) I wondered whether it may have been taken soon after she was widowed. Her partner, Alexander McGregor, (can't find a marriage) died in 1884, but it appears they were separated as the family seemed to have been unaware of his death until 1888 when they placed a memoriam notice in the newspaper. Several years later Agnes celebrated her 50th birthday, this lady looks around that age to me. Can anyone please date this?
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A Lomer was at George St after 1881
http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/496591?c=people
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My guess would be 1890s.
Carol
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Late 1880's at a guess, which would put the lady in her late 40's or possibly 50.
Regards
AJ
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AJ has it about right, mid-late 1880's possibly up to 1890 depending on how fashionable she was.
It may not be the lady in question.
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I was going by the card stock with my date and I think it could fit with who the poster thinks she is...just my opinion ::) ;D ;D
Carol
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It would be unusual to see a bustle in the 1890's.
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I think this may be Agnes Aitken born 1841 in Sydney, Australia to Alexander Aitken and Agnes Crawford. Because of the awkward way she is holding her left hand (displaying her ring finger?) I wondered whether it may have been taken soon after she was widowed. Her partner, Alexander McGregor, (can't find a marriage) died in 1884, but it appears they were separated as the family seemed to have been unaware of his death until 1888 when they placed a memoriam notice in the newspaper. Several years later Agnes celebrated her 50th birthday, this lady looks around that age to me. Can anyone please date this?
Some info for you about the photographer.
Albert Lomer
" Professional photographer and colourist of Brisbane, Sydney and Queensland who worked throughout the mid to late 19th century. A one-time partner of Andrew Chandler, Lomer's later clients included the painter Samuel Elyard.
professional photographer, worked in Melbourne before 1865 when he opened a studio at Sydney in partnership with Andrew Chandler . They advertised as being from W. Davies & Co. of Melbourne, where both had presumably trained. Their studio, The London Photographic Company, was at 419 George Street, next door to Lassetter’s ironmongery store. By February 1867 Lomer was continuing alone but promising that 'the business will be conducted in the same efficient manner and under the same liberal principles as hitherto’. He had reduced the old price for cartes-de-visite to two for 5s or 15s a dozen and sold cabinet and other portrait photographs 'beautifully coloured (on the premises) in oil or water’. Lomer appears to have been his own colourist, regularly advertising as both 'artist and photographer’ (which this normally signified). In 1872-73 Lomer was working at 57 Bourke Street, Melbourne. He then established a very successful Brisbane studio at 158 Queen Street which lasted from 1874 until 1905, although he apparently no longer ran it after 1880. Branch studios were opened in various parts of the colony: the Lomer studio at Mackay in 1887 (managed by J.P. Kemp), a studio at Toowoomba (1893-96) and one at Ipswich (1898-99). Lomer was again in Sydney in 1880-95. In April 1881 Albert Lomer’s Parlour Studios at 805 George Street opposite the railway terminus,'The Really Popular (and Cheap) Photographer’, was selling cartes-de-visite for ... "
Hope this helps.
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It would be unusual to see a bustle in the 1890's.
Well I'm wearing outfits from the last decade :P ;D ;D ;D
Carol
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Thanks everyone for your opinions. It seems that the late 1880's is most likely so it could be Agnes. Is there anything to indicate she may be in mourning? I do think that her hand position may be significant as it looks so unnatural.
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Thanks everyone for your opinions. It seems that the late 1880's is most likely so it could be Agnes. Is there anything to indicate she may be in mourning? I do think that her hand position may be significant as it looks so unnatural.
You are correct about the hand. Her little finger looks unnaturally long in comparison to the others. Did she have any hand injurys?
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I don't know. She may not have been able to bend the finger because of injury, but if that is the case I would expect that she'd be likely to hide it. The hand arrangement appears to be deliberate to me.