Date of Photo?

[arthurk]

I have a locket with an old photo in it, but I haven't yet been able to identify the lady in the photo. To get me started, based on what she is wearing, can anyone offer an approximate date for the photo, and maybe guess at her age as well, please?

I'm not prepared to open up the locket to examine the physical characteristics of the photo, though I suspect it may be on paper.

Thanks for any help,
Arthur

[Treetotal]

Hi Arthur...What a little gem you have there...I can't help with a date but I would guess her age to be in her 60s.
Carol

[Old Photos]

The style of clothing and head piece could take the photo to around the mid 1860's based on photos we've worked on before. However, with older people as has been mentioned on here before, they did tend to wear out of fashion clothes in to their latter years so the photo could be more recent than that.

Hope that helps as a starter.

[arthurk]

I've had a stroke of luck - I've come across a complete copy of the photo from which this was evidently taken, and I've attached it below.

The photographer was in Otley, WRY, which helps me narrow it down to almost certainly one of two women, whose dates are 1798-1861 and 1800-1873. I've found references to him working in Otley between 1857 and 1870, but he may have operated outside this timespan as well, and it doesn't really help me choose between the women anyway.

I think the one born 1800 is more likely, partly because my link to her is via her daughter, and I think it's more likely to be a woman's locket than a man's, and partly because I think the photo may date from after 1861. However, I'm open to other opinions.

Arthur

[chinakay]

Early-mid 1860s but pre1861 would be stretching it a bit because this type of print wasn't even invented until 1860.

Cheers,
China

[arthurk]

Thanks - one book I looked in suggested this kind of photo (carte de visite) started to come in just before 1860, but I'd agree that they were much more common later on.

Arthur

[jim1]

Mid-late 1860's & probably late as the logo is an end of decade style.
So someone born around 1800 would look about right.

jim

[arthurk]

Thanks - I think most, if not all, the evidence is now pointing to the 1860s. However, I'd be interested to know where you found the information on the style of logo, as it would be very useful to know this kind of thing when looking at other photos.

Arthur

[jim1]

Here's one:
http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/time.htm
But this is only a small selection of the varying styles & you must take into account some photos are later copies of earlier originals.So a rough guide only.
jim