2 Photos for dating

[steensb]

The first photo I believe is of Margaret Glassford who lived from 1844 to 1886.   I believe the photo I scanned was a reproduction.  It was displayed with a photo of her husband which appeared to be taken at the same time.  She married him in 1861 and he died in 1875. 

The second photo may be of one of her relatives.  The eyes look similar, but the earlobes, nose and forehead look different.  The person who shared it with me said it had nothing written on the back.  It does show a rather distinctive hairstyle.  A date estimate might help us figure out who this is.

Thanks for any help,
Christine

[Wiggy]

She's a very good looking girl that first one isn't she.

I can't date it, but she's quite young isn't she.         


The second one is - - well - what a hair do!!   

China and Jim will know I expect.   

Wiggy 

Wiggy 

[PrueM]

Wow, what a hairdo!      Never seen anything like it, quite incredible really. 
Not sure on the date at all for her.  We would probably need to see the whole object (not just the picture) to be certain.  Is that possible?

The first beautiful lady I would put in the 1870s, but it's just a guess. 

[Wiggy]

do you reckon it is a wig??    Or a theatre costume??

[PrueM]

Don't think it's theatrical, or I'd expect more of a "pose", if you know what I mean...it could be a wig, or a hairpiece on top, but I think it is actually her hair.  The more you look at it the more you can see it's actually fairly simple (in construction, if not in execution!).

[Wiggy]

all those plaits !!

- and I wonder what they would have held the hair down with - looks pretty laquered doesn't it. 

[jim1]

Agree with Prue & probably mid-late decade.
The 2nd. is also 1870's & what looks like a tintype.
I think this is posed to show the wig.May be sat in a wigmakers window.

jim

[PrueM]

I'm pretty sure it's an albumen print, Jim, not that it makes any difference to the date  Probably on a self-toning paper, which is why it's not yellow like the other one.
That's two votes for a wig - the jury's still out in my brain, though...I'm not sure what it is 

[Wiggy]

You can actually see a shadow on the forehead under the hair in a few places!   

Odd isn't it!