Photo date please

[softieh]

Hi everyone,

I would be really grateful if anyone could offer a rough date for this photo. Unfortunately there is nothing on the back of the photo which I appreciate does make it harder. He is quite a formidable man! I wonder if this dress is typical of the time or does it look like some form of uniform?

Many thanks for your help!
Sophie

[gstratton]

A quick clean up for you

Gareth

[softieh]

Thats beautiful, thanks Gareth!

[still_looking]

Not certain on this but the style of frock coat looks quite old (from the buttons on the sleeve) and he appears to possibly be wearing gaiters. I wonder if the style of clothing predates the photo, maybe because the sitters' profession dresses more conservatively.

Say religious or legal?

S_L

[nickgc]

Surprised Jim, or one of our other very good "daters" hasn't offered an opinion yet.

I will hazard a guess of 1860s based on clothing and the type of beard he appears to be wearing.  Tried to find another picture of the type of trousers he is wearing with the calf portion sporting buttons, but no success.

Nick

[chinakay]

I'd go along with Nick...the beard seems to be a style called a Newgate Frill, worn low on the chin without a mustache and was popular in the 1860s although older gents carried that style into later decades. However, the corners of the mount are square, which pretty much puts the photo before about 1875 when the corners became rounded so the photos could easily slip in and out of pockets in the photo album pages.

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

Oh, and the little bits of hair flipping up are likely caused by the hat he's been wearing, removed for the photo and quite possibly sitting on the table beside him, out of view

[softieh]

Thats fantastic. Thanks so much for your replies everyone!

Sophie