Request for date of photo.

[Jo Harding]

Hello,

This photo is of my great, great, grandmother, Sarah Ann Britton. The identity of the young boy is thought to have been her grandson, Samuel Came, born 1896.

Sarah was born in 1839 and she died in 1909. The family legend has it that this was taken when the boy was about 4 years of age. That would put the date at c1900.

There has been some doubt about this date recently. It is felt that the photo is from an earlier date. I would guess at Sarah's age as being c45. This would put the date in the mid 1880s.

Can anyone assist please?

Jo

[Suttonrog]

I would venture that the dress is late 1870s although the setting is propobaly 80s.

A scan of the back and photographers mark may help.

Rog

[Niksmum]

a color version for you

Irene

[chinakay]

Hi Jo,
As Rog mentioned, a scan of the entire photo including the outer corners of the mount, and also of the back, would be helpful.

As for a date, I'm going to go a little later than Rog...the outdoorsy setting with plinths and wooden fences etc was a style popular in the 1880s...but I believe the woman's dress dates from about 1889 or so. A puffy style of shoulder called a kickup came into fashion that year, and prior to that the shoulder seam was very flat and plain. I think this bodice shows the kickup.

I'd also say the fabric of the bodice is more 1880s than 1870s...the earlier fabrics of the 70s were heavy brocade and lots of velvets and resembled furniture more than clothing This is a shiny satin and more in keeping with a later date.

Now...with all this, keep in mind that everything depends on how fashion-conscious the woman was. if she's up-to-date, I'd say right around 1889-1890 or so. If she isn't, it could be later. But still, the setting is fairly 1880s.

My opinion, and you may get more on the heap

Cheers,
China

[jim1]

Have to go with China's date of early 1890's.This heavily embroidered outfit
looks quite expensive and I can't see her being out of date.Her hairstyle also
has the softer 1890's look.Photographers still liked these lumps of concrete
into early 90's.

jim

[chinakay]

It probably took them a decade to get them hoisted out of the studio

[Jo Harding]

Hello to all,

Many thanks for the opinions you have given. Also, thanks for the colour tint which gives a much better impression of the attire etc.

I think Sarah would have been very fashion conscious and dressed in the latest styles. On the other hand, she was very aware of money matters, she died a millionairess in 1909. Could be her clothes had to last!

I cannot do a scan of the back etc as I do not have the photo myself. This belongs to a relative.

I think the dates of late 1880s are probably right.

Thanks again.

Jo.

[PaulaToo]

On another thread someone was asking if they sent messages by flowers in photos. I'm convinced they did, after all there was a 'Language of Flowers.'
Have you noticed both are wearing what has got to be Narcissus 'Actaea.'
Now in my Language of Flowers 1913 Narcissus is for Egotism...which doesn't match up at all....

I wonder if there was a special meaning just about the time the photo was taken....or if they just picked them from the garden...

Can't give you a date, but it looks as though it was taken in Spring of what ever year....

[Rabbit B]

hi everyone,

beautiful picture, exquisite restores as always. there is a lot of work in that dress, isn’t there.

I wonder why boys were always dressed as sailors around 1906, I have a picture of an uncle dressed like that.

have to agree about the dates that china and the others have gone with, does anyone know how long sailor suits were in fashion for boys like this.

rabbit b