RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Roselei on Friday 06 June 14 18:11 BST (UK)
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Hello!
What a WONDERFUL service you all are providing! So very ;D to have stumbled upon this site.
Attached is a photo of my great grandparents from Indiana, USA. It's a photo I've always wondered about, their clothing in particular. Back then photos were often taken at funerals and I speculate that may have been the case with this photo. Both are wearing a round pin that seems to have a face on it, and my great grandma is wearing a second pin that dangles. Not sure what that pin might be but it is intriguing.
Would love to hear your thoughts on what can be gleaned about my great grands, an approximate date it might have been taken, and any historical information.
Thank you all in advance!
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Hi and welcome to Rootschat...I don't see a wedding ring on the ladies finger? Do you have the original photo..if so it would help if you posted it along with the reverse as this is a dating tool. It does look like it is in memory of a loved one.
Carol
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Thank you for the reply. I do not have the original. This is a scanned copy of a family member's photo.
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Hi, Roselei, cant help with the dating but I do believe it is a funeral and of course the ladies dress would probably be black, but who knows, so I just played about with it, Trellisick.
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Trellisick! That is awesome!!! I just love the colorization and the blue in John's eyes. Thank you!
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Can't say it enough... I LOVE IT! Thank you sooooo MUCH, Trellisick! I adore it!
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Hello Roselei,
I would say the photo is taken just before the wedding. Both are wearing their best dresses, she is wearing black - the common wedding dress in the 19th century. She has the family bible, prepared for the entry. - It might be that the buttons are showing the faces of a lost father or mother.
The nobility started with white wedding dresses after 1840. The middle and lower classes started with white wedding dresses after 1920.
Best regards
Rudolf
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Hello Roselei,
I would say the photo is taken just before the wedding. Both are wearing their best dresses, she is wearing black
Best regards
Rudolf
How do you know that ?
It could be any dark color, navy, red, dark green.....
Irene
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Yes I would agree...My guess would be late 1890s.
Carol
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Thank you again everyone. Appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts and input.
John and Sarah married in 1897 and all 4 parents were alive at the time. If I were to guess as to whose image was on their pins, I'd say it was Sarah's grandmother who died in 1901.
With everyone's help, I can now say that our family does have a photo that, for me, bears some historical significance. This is the only mourning photo we have in the family. Pictures of deceased, yes. But up till now no mourning photo. Happy I am, indeed.
Thanks again!
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I'm not sure where the suggestion has come from that this is a mourning photo.
My view is that this was taken in a booth rather than a studio as there's an absence of pretty much everything that you would expect to see in a studio.
Probably early 1900's but could be as early as late 1890's as suggested.
Button photography was popular at this time more so in the USA than the UK.
Pinned to her bodice is a half hunter.
The book may be hers or a prop.
jim