RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Aye Right on Friday 30 December 11 21:43 GMT (UK)

Title: Need an approx date!
Post by: Aye Right on Friday 30 December 11 21:43 GMT (UK)
Hi

I received this photo of an ancestor from a much older cousin after she died, but unfortunately no one left in the family knows who it is for sure. 

We are going through a process of elimination and I am hoping that Rootschatters might be able to help date the photo from the clothes the lady is wearing.  Can you give me any pointers?

Thank you

Ax
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: Seoras on Saturday 31 December 11 00:23 GMT (UK)
Hi Ax,seen a similar dress on a lady dated 1890s,but I'm no expert on clothing.Do you have the original,if so is there any other info on it such as the photographer.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: chinakay on Saturday 31 December 11 00:58 GMT (UK)
A bit later than the 1890s, around 1905 I'd say, but it's such a horrible scan that I can't make out details such as the waistline etc. Any chance of a decent scan at 300 dpi?

I'm wondering if the lady might be a new widow. We have a lot of people posting a black&white photo on here and asking if the lady is in mourning. Well, as it's not a colour photo, we'll never know...could be any dark colour. So I don't want to make the same mistake. But.....the details of the hat seem to be unrelieved with any lighter shades....it seems to be all very dark as well as the dress. And is that a hankie? A lady's mourning stuff, in the first year, was completely black except for the hankie, because the dyes weren't colourfast.

So anyway, that's my 2 cents' worth for you :)

Cheers,
China
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 01:40 GMT (UK)
Maybe an end date for parameters! but could be wrong! (If she was dressed for a personal reasons in dark) Queen Victoria died 1901 and all the ladies of society wore black or dark till then!
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: chinakay on Saturday 31 December 11 15:49 GMT (UK)
No they didn't, unless you are talking about ladies in mourning...your meaning isn't too clear. Ladies wore all sort of bright colours and pastels, especially once aniline dyes were invented. Hats included. Exhibits in clothing museums and contemporary illustrations bear this out. But mourning clothing was often produced by dyeing one's existing wardrobe in a vat in the garden, using vegetable dye.

Cheers,
China
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 16:26 GMT (UK)
Hi

Not exactly my subject but society women followed Queen Victoria mourning of Prince Albert, also I saw only resent a Antiques road show about the wearing of Jade or Jet from Whitby as Jewelry being Victoria's mourning then after 1901 went out of fashion.

http://www.morbidoutlook.com/fashion/historical/2001_03_victorianmourn.html
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: chinakay on Saturday 31 December 11 16:31 GMT (UK)
Yes, but not for everyday wear.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 16:36 GMT (UK)
Yes, but not for everyday wear.

Yes but every day wear was not worn for photo's in studio's I would think.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 16:43 GMT (UK)
summat to ponder on anyway as by 1902 things really opened up to colour in fashion a big floral hats.

As said not my best subject but thought a mention to keep in mind.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: kath davis on Saturday 31 December 11 18:42 GMT (UK)
I am with China on this one.  I am sure some ladies followed QV's lead closely, as many will follow a celeb today.  But do not believe everything you read on the web - I suppose even this site, but we know we are only expressing opinions, some more knowledgeable than others.  Anyone can publish anything on a website.  Just Google "Victorian dress" to get a range of lovely colours!

Of course it could also be someone mourning QV herself, the date is about right.

Kath
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 19:04 GMT (UK)
Looking at them websites with Victorian photo's that are similar dated about 1880 ish so Parameters 1880 -1901
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: chinakay on Saturday 31 December 11 20:08 GMT (UK)
Dobfarm, this is not 1880s clothing! This is early Edwardian.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Saturday 31 December 11 23:14 GMT (UK)
Never -The Edwardian wearing that dress. The Queen Alex big Hats and Colour brigade.

http://www.victoriana.com/edwardianfashions/edwardiandresses.php
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: chinakay on Sunday 01 January 12 00:53 GMT (UK)

Not exactly my subject

It's mine.
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: dobfarm on Sunday 01 January 12 02:05 GMT (UK)
I'll let the Jury decide- The readers!- someone may know about the fashion design of dresses then or that hat of the time.

off back to footy. (my subject for lads)  ;D


Happy new year  :D

Dob's
Title: Re: Need an approx date!
Post by: Aye Right on Sunday 02 September 12 14:17 BST (UK)
Dear All

I am terribly sorry for missing all the replies - don't know how this happened!

Thank you for all your input - it is a horrible scan of a horribly copied photo.  I will see what I can do at this end :)

Still don't have a name for the lady but still working on it :):):)

Any input or advice gratefully accepted.

Ax