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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: brooksburns on Friday 23 December 22 11:58 GMT (UK)

Title: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: brooksburns on Friday 23 December 22 11:58 GMT (UK)
I would appreciate any advice about when and where this photograph may have been taken, the social status / job of the subject, and their approximate age in the image.  I imagine some of you may have knowledge about the trends in clothing, furniture, photography techniques, etc in order to help answer these questions, so that's why I am asking.  Thank you very much in advance for any and all your contributions.

For the purposes of etiquette: Surname believed to be GRAY; country believed to be England.  However, I'm trying to identify the person, so you can consider all metadata to be unknown!

Thanks again

BB
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 24 December 22 14:02 GMT (UK)
I would say it was an 1880s image. It could be an engagement photo as she is displaying her left hand, the image isn't clear enough to a ring though. I would say that she was in her 20s. It would have been taken in a studio, but as there is no named photographer it would be impossible to say where.

Carol
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: jim1 on Saturday 24 December 22 14:31 GMT (UK)
Carol's going to fall out with me in a minute, this is 1870's &
I would suggest mid-late decade.
There might be a wedding ring just detectable & left hand over right
was a typical pose for a married woman.


















Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 24 December 22 14:42 GMT (UK)
Well.....my dating books have yet to be unpacked after moving, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  :D
Jim.....fall out, nah! you taught me everything I know about dating, but, I must find those books. We still have about 5 more boxes left in the loft., fortunately, I labelled the boxes  ::)
Carol
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: jim1 on Saturday 24 December 22 14:51 GMT (UK)
If you find a box with needle & thread maybe you
can fix the hem of her skirt.
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: Gadget on Saturday 24 December 22 15:03 GMT (UK)
Just found a similar dated 1877-1880. Does that sound a compromise  :)

I'd say her age is early 20s and  she looks sad.

Gadget
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: jim1 on Saturday 24 December 22 15:07 GMT (UK)
Sad because she's ripped her frock.
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 24 December 22 15:19 GMT (UK)
Quote from: jim1 on Saturday 24 December 22 15:07 GMT (UK)
Sad because she's ripped her frock.


...and it was borrowed  ;D ;D

Carol
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: jim1 on Saturday 24 December 22 15:49 GMT (UK)
They'll be tears before bedtime that's for sure.
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: arthurk on Saturday 24 December 22 19:26 GMT (UK)
I thought she looked sad too, and I wondered if she might be in half mourning - not the full works, all black, but a bit later on when I believe they often wore purple or violet. (Please someone correct this if I'm wrong, as I'm doing this from memory.)
Title: Re: Please help with date, social status. Gray, England.
Post by: brooksburns on Thursday 02 February 23 22:31 GMT (UK)
Thank you everyone for your helpful comments!