Added Image: Elderly Lady; Date and comments please.

[andrew__85]

I have this image in an album, and a thought of who it could be.  For verrification I wondered if there was anyone able to give a rough date for this picture?

Thanks
Andrew

[jim1]

Hello Andrew
The lady looks in the 1st. stage of mourning & is going to be difficult to date on dress alone.
The photographer is (I assume) Sunderland & Hudson,you will need to show us the back of this & in colour.

jim

[andrew__85]

What were the stages of mourning?  How long did the first one last?  I did wonder why the black dress.

I will add colour and the back at the weekend, but you are correct with your photography studio.

Albumin I think, if it helps.

[jim1]

There were no hard & fast rules regards mourning but the "etiquette" was 12 months for each of the 2  stages.The first year would have a widow dressed completely in black with no adornments.The second stage adorments & some white lace.

jim

[LoneyBones]

I'm thinking about 1870-ish.
She isn't wearing a wedding ring, (but then neither am I) and she doesn't have an elaborate widow's cap, so maybe not lost her husband. However, she certianly is in deep mourning.
The short jacket under her cape and the fringing sugest 70-ish. No hoop, so not much earlier. Can't tell about a bustle, but the skirt is full enough....also the deep band on the bottom of the skirt is about that time, so not much later than that.
Hope this helps,
Leonie.

[jim1]

Mmmmm.don't think it's that early Leonie.The style of the card stock suggests a later date probably 1890's at least also Sunderland & Hudson weren't in partnership at that time.This card states Hudson & Co. late Sunderland & Hudson so by this time the partnership had dissolved but were both still trading.
From little there is to see of her bodice it looks an 1880's style & like her skirt has had crape added giving it a peculiar look.There seems to be a mark on her left hand indicating where a ring may have been,she may have removed this as the etiquette suggests no jewellry to be worn.As she's wearing a widow's cape she would be recognisable as a married woman.
If she has limited means she may have used an older skirt for this occasion because it does look very dated as you point out.

jim

[LoneyBones]

OK, I downloaded it and had a closer look. I can see now that the jacket is longer than I first thought, it's waisted, where I thought it was sitting on her waist. (This is why I don't do restores any more,  I don't see as well as I used to.)
However, I really dont think it's as late as 1890. How about we meet in the middle somewhere?    Maybe it's a re-print on new card stock. ?
I don't like to confuse people when they want a more precice date, so I'll withdraw now and go look at one of my bigger books tomorrow.
 
Leonie.

[jim1]

Looking at Kelly's these 2 were independant in 1884 but had joined forces by 1888 up to 1892 & seemed to have parted company by 1896 so "late Sunderland & Hudson" would be after 1892.

jim

[andrew__85]

When I get home I will upload the colour versions and have a look at the windows in time between husbands dying and the ladys dying.  I suspect one will be 1872-1874, and the other will be about 1895..... But i should check before you start debating the issue any further.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Andrew