Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances

[mgeneas]

This couple married in 1867, would this have been taken around then?

[McGroger]

To date my estimates have been wrong about half the time, so be warned .

Here’s my stab at it:

Right in the thick of the period you’re looking at, I would say.
She doesn't seem to be displaying a ring so perhaps it was taken a little before their wedding. Her hair looks to be pulled tightly back but her ears are partly showing, so more middle than early 1860s. And the geometric shapes on her sleeve were common to “military style” dresses apparently inspired by the American Civil War and popular until the end of the decade.

It looks like she is holding a photo case which surely would have had some significance to the occasion of the photo shoot. What a pity we can’t see who was in it. Wild guess: maybe a deceased parent?

Peter

[mgeneas]

Thanks Peter, hopefully you are right on with dating. It makes sense for the photo to have been taken about the time of the marriage.

Marilyn

[jim1]

Absolutely 1860's.

[mgeneas]

Thank you Jim

They were not posh folk, John was an assistant gamekeeper at the time, so a photograph would be a big occasion.