Thread: Help with dates?

GeckoJulie · 14-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Hi I have an old photo which I am trying to date, and also find out who they were. One side of my mothers family were farmers, and the other were stonemasons. I am of the opinion this is a photo of 'the farmers' in their sunday best. (sorry if it is too big)

Kate · 15-06-2008, 12:02 AM

I'm hazarding a guess at between the 1870's and 1880's.

Starting in around 1875 travelling photographers went around doing portraits at social gatherings and they had fake canvas backdrops. Looking closely at that photo it looks as if the backdrop is not real. There appears to be a gap up in the top left hand corner. Also the light above and to the left of the ladies head gives me the impression that the backdrop is artificial.

gillian · 15-06-2008, 10:55 AM

I agree Kate (though I don't think I would have spotted it). When I blew up the photo it was very clear that it was an artificial backdrop.
I found a photo very early 80s with the woman's skirt like that - and hair worn close to the head.
The check material - maybe a country style? home dressmaking?
Gillian

GeckoJulie · 15-06-2008, 08:26 PM

Sorry the gaps to which you are refering too on the edges of the photo, are actually there because I took a digital pic of the original photo, and didn't realise that a small gap would be visible (I didn't want to chop any of the photo off). I really think they are outside a cottage, or farmhouse.
Julie

14-06-2008, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
GeckoJulie Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North-East England Posts: 30	Help with dates? Hi I have an old photo which I am trying to date, and also find out who they were. One side of my mothers family were farmers, and the other were stonemasons. I am of the opinion this is a photo of 'the farmers' in their sunday best. (sorry if it is too big) Last edited by GeckoJulie; 14-06-2008 at 06:26 PM.

15-06-2008, 12:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kate Advanced Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 312 Total Awards: 3	Re: Help with dates? I'm hazarding a guess at between the 1870's and 1880's. Starting in around 1875 travelling photographers went around doing portraits at social gatherings and they had fake canvas backdrops. Looking closely at that photo it looks as if the backdrop is not real. There appears to be a gap up in the top left hand corner. Also the light above and to the left of the ladies head gives me the impression that the backdrop is artificial.

15-06-2008, 10:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
gillian Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,505 Total Awards: 4	Re: Help with dates? I agree Kate (though I don't think I would have spotted it). When I blew up the photo it was very clear that it was an artificial backdrop. I found a photo very early 80s with the woman's skirt like that - and hair worn close to the head. The check material - maybe a country style? home dressmaking? Gillian

15-06-2008, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
GeckoJulie Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North-East England Posts: 30	Re: Help with dates? Sorry the gaps to which you are refering too on the edges of the photo, are actually there because I took a digital pic of the original photo, and didn't realise that a small gap would be visible (I didn't want to chop any of the photo off). I really think they are outside a cottage, or farmhouse. Julie
	Julie Researching Donaldson, (Scotland & Sunderland) Skaife, (Hampsthwaite-Yorkshire & Middlesbough) Barwick, (Ripon & Middlesbrough) Robson, (Sunderland) lots of others.