The portrait belongs to my wife's family here in UK, and may show a member of the Davies or Jones family whose roots are in South Wales (Dowlais, Merthyr) and North Wales (Wrexham) areas. We do not know exactly who the lady is.
The format: The portrait is a large (11 inches x 14 inches) tintype photograph that has been rather amateurishly embellished with colour at some point. There are no markings or postage stamps etc. on the reverse and no markings on the frame.
The frame style is consistent with an Eastlake revival frame of a design popular in about 1880, and the reverse of the tintype was packed into the frame using fragments of the New York Herald of 1881. These facts, plus the popularity of the tintype in America, suggest that the portrait was made in America prior to 1881 and subsequently sent to family Wales. As tintypes were patented in 1854, we already have a reasonably narrow window in which the the photograph could have been taken (i.e. 1854-1881), but any any help in further refining the date would be most appreciated.
Can you date the style of dress and bonnet? Can you estimate the woman's age?
Any help gratefully received!
Gary
