Photo Dating - South Australia - possible Skipworth photo

[wheresshelly]

I'm hoping to figure out whether these photos are 1870s or 1880s and not copies of older photos as some family members believe.
The woman's photo is by S Solomon of Rundle Street, Adelaide. His studio was active from 1874-1891. Would I be correct in assuming the pointed corners are more 1870s-early 80s? Is there anything about her dress that pinpoints one decade over the other. And the hair is throwing me, is she unmarried or just proud of her hair?

The man's photo doesn't have any photographer branding on it but the corners are pointed. Is there anything about his dress/face hair that pinpoints a decade?

I don't have the originals so these are the only photos of I have of the images.

Many thanks!

[Treetotal]

The first one looks like an 1870s copy of a late 1850s early 1860s photo. The second looks to be early/mid 1870s, the rounded corners were introduced in the early-mid 1870s in order that that the photos would fit more easily into the sleeves of Victorian photo albums. The oval vignette was popular in the 1870s.
Carol

[jim1]

I believe the 1st. is 1870's as is the 2nd. The lady's bodice is too fussy for the 1850's-60's in my view,

[Treetotal]

Nice one Jim...I dated it by the ringlets, must try harder  The fact that she has her hair down would suggest that she is unmarried, she doesn't look very old.
Carol

[Wiggy]

All those ringlets  - interesting - didn't girls put their hair up in about mid teens?  Yet she does look older than early teens - to me anyway.  so does the way she is dressed.

Wiggy

[jim1]

I have my doubts that those ringlets are real.
Certainly real hair but not necessarily hers.
Also I don't think there's any reason to think that they are not husband & wife.

[Ruskie]

I think it is tricky to estimate the ages of this couple. Her hair makes her appear younger, and his beard gives the impression that he is older.

Looking at her face I would say she could be anything from 20s to 40s. Imagining him without the beard, I would guess late 20s to 30s.

 

[wheresshelly]

Thanks everyone! Looks like you're all as confused as me. I can see both an 1860s woman and an 1880's woman in the photo, I wish I could see the whole dress as that would make it a lot easier!

I think she does look older in the face than what the hair suggests which makes me think it's a hair pride photo, although I've normally seen them with their hair brushed out, not in ringlets. I'm certain she didn't leave the studio with her hair like that though - scandalous! I don't think an unmarried woman in her 20-30's would wear her hair like that in public.

[Treetotal]

Dating is not an exact science and there will always be exceptions to the rule. Do you have any more photos of here for comparison and do you know here date of birth?
Carol