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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: The-AC-Project on Sunday 15 August 10 21:44 BST (UK)
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Another of my recently found ancestral photo's, with no identifiable names.
So a possible time frame on the photo of this austere couple would be great
Thanks for looking
Al
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Around 1900 or so. Unusual landscape style.
Any design printed on the back?
Cheers,
China
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What a wonderful photograph!
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Am no expert - so referred to the excellent book "Family Photographs & How to Date Them" by Jayne Shrimpton.
I would suggest 1880's, possibly early 1890's. 3-piece lounge suits for men and the winged shirt collar were typical of this period. Women's dresses are usually easier to date, and the woman's dress sleeves are not the puffed shoulder that came in during the 1890's.
However, apparently we have to remember that the older generation were less likely to wear the more modern & fashionable styles straight away, and for this reason the photo could possibly be up to the mid-1890's.
Any further details like photographer or studio address? :-\
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That woman's dress is absolutely not 1880s, nor 1890s.
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Hi Al :)
I agree with China, I'd put the picture around 1900 and the landscape format is very unusual, although I do have a couple in my collection...
woman's dress sleeves are not the puffed shoulder that came in during the 1890's.
Hi mrs. tenacious :) You are correct that the woman's dress sleeves are not the puffed shoulder that came in during the 1890s...they are a later style, though, not an earlier one ;) If this photo was 1880s or just into the 90s, you'd expect a very close-fitted sleeve and not one as roomy as this. Also, the photo style is not consistent with this early a date.
I hope you stick around and have a go at some more pictures, we need all the help we can get sometimes! ;D :P
Cheers
Prue
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Many thanks for all your input, digesting all that you have brought to my attention.
Unfortunately no photographers address or studio, the picture was printed as a postcard, and the
" A half-penny stamp for inland One Penny foreign " does not narrow the time frame down either.
The only inscription on the back is hand-written " For Joe " so am searching for a Joe in the family around the turn of the century. { that would be 1900s keep forgetting we are in another Century now }
Many Thanks
Al
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the time frame for the postcard is 1902-18,however I would agree early 1900's.The mans suit is a throwback to the 90's but being older I wouldn't expect him to up to date.The lady however is in this silk day dress & with him wearing wing collar & cravat I don't think a working class couple.
jim
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Thank you Jim,
I had the thought of not a working class photo myself, which puts the cat amongst the pigeons as all my fore bears were working class.
Little bit more diggin I think
Thanks for the input
Al
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Such a beautiful photograph I thought it deserved a clean-up and I also re-coloured it in sepia.
Perhaps someone would like to colour this image :)
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Many thanks Tony for taking the time.
If you don't mind I will print the photo as you have cleaned up.
If only I knew who they were, still the thing is to never give up, will get there in the end.
Al
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Don't forget, Al - they may not be family at all, or if they are, they might be uncles or aunts etc. who you wouldn't be able to place. :)
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Does anyone else get the feeling that this grand old couple could be siblings rather than an old married couple? Lots of facial characteristics in common I think.
Nick
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I think this is an older photo, copied and printed on a postcard.
Of course, elderly people were inclined to be a bit behind the latest fashion, as is often seen in family group photos.
Though the lady's dress is a mixture of styles (home made?) of the late 1870s into the mid 1880s, a lady's sleeves were very tight in the 1880s, and she has chosen a sleeve more like the early 1870s. My guess is she was an active woman, and disliked the tight sleeves of the 1880s which limited movement.
The chairs are unusual, though. Has anyone seen such in other photos? That could identify the studio, I feel, and help with a date.
Regards Ada