Could someone please date/clean this photo?

[PrueM]

Hmmm...much as I'd like to, China    I'm sticking to my guns on this one!  I'm sure it's 1880s, or possibly even very early 90s.  Too casual a pose for the 1870s, and the plants and cluttered surrounds suggest the later date.  They might have just been too cheap to change the flooring!  I think it's probably carpet.

[abbeyfields]

Hi all,

Sorry, I've been out, and now you're probably all asleep!

Anyhow, I should have told you that on the back of the photo is written: Stockton Photographer, Welles Street, Sandbach

Sorry to not tell you that in the first place.

I can scan the back for you if you like? I think there may have been a pattern on the back - I'll have to root it out again!

I'm so impressed by all of these dating details, it's a real science, isn't it?

We're a bit confused, as we were always led to believe by my ggm that it was Thomas (who actually b.1808, died 1892, and his son was meant to be a small dapper fellow, not tall, and this fellow looks like a big man to me!

Thanks again for all of your opinions,

Barbara

[PaulaToo]

Ooooo! I like this one!
He's super and well worth waiting for.

The back of the photo is important for dating, because there were different styles of design at different times.

The whole look and feel of the photo is the same as one of my Gran Harriet, which we dated in the 1800s.

What ever, he's a grand looking gent.

[abbeyfields]

Hi all,

I hope this works - here is the back of the photo!

It gets more and more interesting!

Thanks again for your opinions,

Barbara
Collector, NSW, Australia

[willow154]

Pity the collar of the shirt, etc isn't a bit clearer - can you describe it for us please ie. is it a cravat or tie? (might be clearer on other screens, but I can't make it out very well on mine).
Thank you.
Paulene
P.S. Looked for him in the directories, and lists of photographers, but not been able to find anything.

[PaulaToo]

I was thinking the same, Paulene. I tried blowing it up, but it just looks like a plaster cast round his neck!
I would guess it was one of those very stiff straight collars that cut your head off if you didn't keep your chin up 

I looked for the photographer too....no luck.
The back design is a bit arts and crafts or something like that, though, would you say?

[abbeyfields]

Thanks very much for searching though!

Um, I can't tell what type of tie it is, I'm afraid the original is as washed-out as it looks. It is certainly high.

The back design is like ferns, from what I can see.

Thanks again,

Barbara

[abbeyfields]

Sorry, I meant the backdrop, not the back

[willow154]

Hi Paula,
I can see where you're coming from on that - certainly fairly plain compared with some (and it's not one of the very plain early ones) -still looking for something like it.
These men's photos certainly keep us guessing, don't they
Paulene