dating ideas?

[Carole A]

Any ideas about the date of this portrait? The firm in Manchester operated under the name from 1871 onwards, but curious to know when people would date the bustle and hat etc

Carole

[chinakay]

Quite the hat!

On the scan there is one corner showing, and it's square. The square corners on the card backings began to be replaced by rounded corners in the mid 1870s, for ease in slipping a photo in and out of photo album pockets.

The dark line around the edge of the photo is also an 1870s thing.

The bustle went out in the late 1870s.

I'm thinking, then, early to mid 1870s...so, there's where I'd put the date.

Cheers,
China

[Carole A]

Excellent, China, that confirms my hunch.  Most likely relative resided up that way definitely in 1873 and 1876 when she had children, and left before 1879. I wondered if it was a pram she was holding on to, which may rule out an unmarried woman?

Carole

[chinakay]

It would have been a photographer's prop, and it looks to me like a "rustic" chair or bench of the sort in MeganK's thread "Only half a picture". You can see the little bumps where branches have been cut off.

Cheers,
C

[Carole A]

Yes, that makes sense. I was probably a bit fanciful about the pram.

Cheers

Carole

[PrueM]

FWIW, I agree with China's estimate of the date.  Mid-1870s sounds about perfect 

Gorgeous lady - and is that a smile I see?  Most unusual!

PRue

[Carole A]

Thanks, Prue. I'm pretty sure this is my great grandmother, Sarah, and the dating and location seems to match - the family moved around following ship building and were in Manchester around then.

Cheers

Carole