Would This Smith Lady Be The Mother Or The Sister? Can Photo Be Coloured?

[Treetotal]

I think it could be earlier than the 1890s as the sleeves would have had a small kick up in the earlier part of the decade and from mid century they would have been gigot sleeves.
Carol

[Gadget]

I agree with Carol. It looks circa 1886 +/-  to me. The pleats in the woman's skirt and her hair style  are of this date.

[Treetotal]

Yes I have seen one like that in my book 19th Century Card Photo, dated 1888. The hairstyle is also not right for the 1890s. The photo could be wrongly labelled
Carol

[Les de B]

A colour version from me
Pat

Thank you Pat.

[Les de B]

Thanks Carol and Gadget

I presume the writing on the back of the photo is correct.......one can only hope?

I suppose the only problem with dating a photo earlier than the dress being worn is - if the person is wearing a 10 year old dress? That is, it could be Harriet (mother) wearing a 10 year old dress or Harriet (daughter) wearing her mother's 10 year old dress? As far as the age of the hair style is concerned I can't give an explanation.....old fashioned maybe ?

Whether the photo is 1880's or 1890's, does the lady in the photo look 31/36 years older than the two boys (i.e. Harriet the mother), or 5/10 years older than the two boys (i.e. Harriet the sister)? My problem is, I can't really tell. I think we have to go back to the original photo because some of the restored versions have given the female make up LOL! 

Les

[Gadget]

Les

Carol and I and many others have seen numerous photos where the writing on the back of photos is wrongly identified and  dated.

Wearing clothes that are 10 years out of date for a photograph is very unusual - maybe some men or elderly ladies but very unlikely in others


Gadget

[Les de B]

Les

Carol and I and many others have seen numerous photos where the writing on the back of photos is wrongly identified and  dated.

Wearing clothes that are 10 years out of date for a photograph is very unusual - maybe some men or elderly ladies but very unlikely in others


Gadget

Fair enough - I'll see if I can find any other photos of the boys of around the same age. I have photos of them much older as adults, and also of the 2 Harriets, but much older again as old women.

Les

[Treetotal]

It is so easy to make assumptions based on opinions passed on and it can really come as a shock to some, to learn the truth about their photos. Quite a few years ago there was someone who wanted a Carte de Visite dating that she said was of her great grandmother, it turned out to be Queen Victoria, she took some persuading 
Also, swapping photos was common among friends and Family and what is thought to be a Family photo can sometimes be one of Family friends.

Carol