Ruth - Can anyone date her? - or give her a bit of a facelift?

[gingernut1]

Hi

This is my Great Grandmother Ruth Harrison who died in 1901 (we think).  I was wondering if any of you experts out there could date the photo for me?   

...and I would be extremely grateful if anyone could give her a bit of a facelift?   

Many thanks


Ginger

[Niksmum]

Hi there Ginger

Here is one from me

Irene

[gingernut1]

Thank you so much - I really appreciate your efforts - you have even managed to get a face on the child !- (who sadly at this time is nameless and sexless!)

Thank you again

Ginger

[Niksmum]

You're welcome Glad you like it. The face on the baby was always there.... it just need coaxing out. 

Irene

[g a r]

here's another - I think the child's outfit has bunched up and cover's it's mouth so have not attempted anything there.

cheers,
g a r

ps: Irene, good luck to the Giants next week - I hope it's an epic battle, worthy of the title Super Bowl (great restore too)

[gingernut1]

thank you very much - you guys are so clever - its all a mystery to me!

Would anyone be able to date this and/or from the clothes would the child by male or female?

thanks again


ginger

[chinakay]

Hi Ginger...well, this is a tough one but I'll give it a try. Unfortunately, because she is seated, it's hard to see her skirt, which is a valuable dating aid, but skirts in the 1870s were adorned with flounces, frills and tassels, and I don't see any of that here so that brings us into the 1880s. The pinafore covering the bodice doesn't leave much to see, and in fact I have never seen a formal photo of a woman dressed in one before which makes me wonder if the photo was taken at a photographer's studio...surely a woman wouldn't go out wearing a pinny over her dress? Anyway, what I can see of the sleeves makes me think the pic was taken before the high shoulder fluff came into fashion in 1889. Next, looking at the hairstyle, it is combed back without a center part, but there is no fringe showing. So going by other photos for comparison,  judging by what we can see of the skirt, sleeves and hair, I would put the photo about 1883-1885 or so.

Just my guess, and bumping this back up may bring in other opinions.

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

Well...now I see Ruth's birthdate is 1870, so that would make her a little young...let me think about this a bit more...

Cheers,
C

[chinakay]

Okay...take 2 I still don't see any evidence of a shoulder puff, called a kickup, but it may be hidden under that pinny. What can be seen of the sleeve does not look like the classic leg-of-mutton sleeve of the late 1890s. The hair, pulled back as it is, may be in the style called a Pompadour that started about 1897, the early ones were pulled tighter than the later ones, so........maybe about 1899, 1900 or so?

Like I said, this is a toughie 

Cheers,
C