I wonder if anyone might be able to date this photo. I'm curious to try and work out the occasion they took it for (if any), as it is of my ancestors Robert Chilvers (1831-1911) and his wife Ann Mary (1832-1915), who lived in Marham, Norfolk.
He was a Blacksmith and he was blind at the end of his working life. According to the family, "he never saw a motor vehicle and when one did pass he would refer to it as a 'monkey cart' as he was unable to envisage it moving without horses".
As you can see the photographer is Walter Dexter studio of Kings Lynn. The Norfolk photographic directory says that he took over his father's business there in May 1881:
http://www.early-photographers.org.uk/Nor%20C-D.htmlRobert Chilvers is still listed as a 'blacksmith' on the 1891 census but is a 'retired blacksmith' by 1901, and although he doesn't indicate his blindness on the census entries I imagine his retirement would have been caused by it. To me he looks already blind in this portrait, although I can't be certain.
Anyway, my guess for the portrait would therefore be 1890s, but I would like your opinions on fashion, card-style etc to see if they concur. No restorations needed thankyou.
Many thanks,
Chris
