Dating of photo

[Laine]

Please can anyone help me by dating this photo from the wearer's dress.  My only info I have is that the lady is my grandfather's father's grandmother, but this would mean around the late 1700's/early 1800's when I doubt photos were in existence.

Laine

[chinakay]

Hi Laine, what a wonderful photo...judging by the hair and dress I would guess at about early to mid 1880s...the hairstyle still has a severe center part, but the fussy 1870s look doesn't seem to be there...and the puffy shoulder seam of 1889 isn't there either. So maybe 1883-1885 or so. Just my opinion, you may get others.

You're right about the dating of photography...the first photo was 1829 and the exposure took several hours, and commercial photography didn't come about until ten years later and was mostly on glass. The quality of this photo is so good it has to be much later. Could you scan the entire photo including the mount, including the corners, and if there is a design on the back that would be helpful in dating as well. Lovely photo!

Cheers,
China

[Laine]

Hi China

This isn't the original photo - it is a restored copy of the original done by a pro photographer, that's why it looks so good.  The original is with my cousin and I have asked her to e-mail me a scan of the original - I can't remember if there was a mount or not.  If it's date is around the early 1880's then it would have to be my grandfather's father's mother and not his grandmother.  I'll post the original when I get it. In the meantime thanks for your help.

Regards Laine

[Laine]

Hi China

Here is the original photo of the one I am trying to put a date to.  The back of the photo in very, very tiny print says:

W. HERMANN &
CO
                                                                             
                                           BERLIN

Any help much appreciated.

Laine

[Gadget]

Hi Laine

I think this might be the photographer:

the photographer Walton Adams had an "Art and Science Studio" at 29 Blagrave Street, Reading, from 1886 until he retired in 1922.

http://www.berksfhs.org.uk/journal/Dec1999/dec1999QandAGodfrey.htm

This suggests that it would be 1886 at the earliest.

See also:

Arthur) Walton Adams (1842-1934)

Adams was a photographer who worked in Southampton and Reading. He was the co-inventor of the dry-plate process, the father of photographer Marcus Adams and the grandfather of Gilbert Adams.

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp08079&role=art

Regards


Gadget

[chinakay]

Nice catch, Gadget. So looking at the sleeves of the dress, the distinctive shoulder seam that came out in 1889 isn't there, so if this was a lady who kept up with fashion the photo would be 1886-1889 or so. That's a pretty narrow window!

The professional restorer missed a bit at the back of the bodice.

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

Look, here's a picture of the photographer's studio...this lady would have walked through the doors:

http://readingimages.epixtech.co.uk/loc/1210127.PDF

Cheers,
C

[Gadget]

Nice catch, Gadget. So looking at the sleeves of the dress, the distinctive shoulder seam that came out in 1889 isn't there, so if this was a lady who kept up with fashion the photo would be 1886-1889 or so. That's a pretty narrow window!

The professional restorer missed a bit at the back of the bodice.

Cheers,
China

Just noticed - we amateurs wouldn't do that   

He looks like quite a famous one, China - piccies in the Nat Portrait Gallery 

[jim1]

As you two have done all the hard work I thought I would step in & do the easy bit 
Here's a restore of the restorer's restore....if you see what I mean.