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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Avondale16 on Sunday 21 October 18 09:35 BST (UK)

Title: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Sunday 21 October 18 09:35 BST (UK)
A possible family member & it would help me greatly if RC members would help me with the following:-

1. notes for this photo say taken by W C Bristow of Worthing 19 Chapel Road. Firm was trading from this studio between 1898-1918. Can we get a more accurate date for this photo?

2. Age of lady?

3. is she were a mourning dress?

Thanks for looking
Keith
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 21 October 18 19:31 BST (UK)
It's certainly looks like a mourning photo....she looks be in her 50s I would say. Difficult to give an accurate date as mourning clothes had a long life as they were often borrowed or passed on and were not worn that often. See my avatar as my Great Grandma is wearing mourning dress and it is dated 1904 and yours is earlier I believe.
Carol
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Sunday 21 October 18 19:37 BST (UK)
It's certainly looks like a mourning photo....she looks be in her 50s I would say. Difficult to give an accurate date as mourning clothes had a long life as they were often borrowed or passed on and were not worn that often. See my avatar as my Great grandma is wearing mourning dress and it is dated 1904 and yours is earlier I believe.
Carol

Thanks Carol - that's a great help
Keith
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 22 October 18 14:03 BST (UK)
I had a play with your photo Keith...hope you don't mind.
Carol
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 14:21 BST (UK)
I had a play with your photo Keith...hope you don't mind.
Carol

You are naughty but I like you! I think I prefer your version to the original  ;)
If it's lady I think it is the photo may have been taken to mark the death of her son - killed in action in 1918 - do you think she is holding a letter/telegram in her left hand?
A lovely version - thank you Carol
Keith
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 22 October 18 14:37 BST (UK)
 ;D ;D ;D She does appear to be holding something...having seen it in Photoshop, I now think she could be in her 60s. With the shortage of material during the war years, mourning dress would have been much simpler I would have thought, but I could be wrong as it may have been borrowed. We can't be certain that she is wearing mourning dress as it could be any dark colour. I think it's more likely to be late 1890s early 1900s.
Carol
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 14:58 BST (UK)
;D ;D ;D She does appear to be holding something...having seen it in Photoshop, I now think she could be in her 60s. With the shortage of material during the war years, mourning dress would have been much simpler I would have thought, but I could be wrong as it may have been borrowed. We can't be certain that she is wearing mourning dress as it could be any dark colour. I think it's more likely to be late 1890s early 1900s.
Carol

Born 1847 so maybe c1907 making her 60  :-\
Keith
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: josey on Monday 22 October 18 16:24 BST (UK)
I really don't know much about mourning dress & customs but just wondered if mourning dress would include a hat with such light coloured frivolity & earrings not all black?
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 16:29 BST (UK)
I really don't know much about mourning dress & customs but just wondered if mourning dress would include a hat with such light coloured frivolity & earrings not all black?

The more I look at it & after what you & Carol have said Josey I am inclined to think it's not mourning dress - she does look a little glammed up for mourning. I am intrigued by what she is holding in her hand though.....
Keith
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: josey on Monday 22 October 18 16:38 BST (UK)
Perhaps it is evening dress [lace cape & all] & she is holding an important invitation  ;)
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 16:50 BST (UK)
Perhaps it is evening dress [lace cape & all] & she is holding an important invitation  ;)

I think you might have cracked it Josey - the town held a special dinner for 'the aged residents' to mark the coronation of George V in 1911 - perhaps she amongst this crowd?
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: josey on Monday 22 October 18 16:59 BST (UK)
Now that's going to involve a lot more scouring  ;D ;D, but her hat is a lot more in keeping with those we can see & could actually have red, white & blue ribbon bows.
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 17:02 BST (UK)
Now that's going to involve a lot more scouring  ;D ;D, but her hat is a lot more in keeping with those we can see.

 ;D ;D - I thought she might be fourth down as you look almost opposite the man with large white beard - think I'm getting a bit carried away now  ;)
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: josey on Monday 22 October 18 17:16 BST (UK)
I can see how you are thinking, face does look similar & neck ruffle the same; but can't see light patches through lace cape, the earrings or symmetrical hat decoration....it's pixelating if I enlarge it any more.
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 22 October 18 19:02 BST (UK)
Most of the ladies seem to be wearing a white/pale coloured flower on their hat and I don't see any lace  :-\
Carol
Title: Re: Please help identify this lady Catherine Paine? by W C Bristow
Post by: Avondale16 on Monday 22 October 18 19:41 BST (UK)
Most of the ladies seem to be wearing a white/pale coloured flower on their hat and I don't see any lace  :-\
Carol

.....maybe not then..... :-\
Keith
(P.S had to chuckle when I read the article about the celebration dinner as it said "the organising committee where unable to provide pipes so any men wanting to smoke will have to bring their own. The women attending all received a gift of a teapot & the men tobacco boxes. Anybody to infirm to attend received half a crown. Admittance was strictly by ticket only" - is she holding her precious ticket....)