Studio Setting
Another great clue as to mid-90s date is the wicker or rattan chair in the picture. Usually painted white, in the 1890s they replaced the heavier studio chairs of previous times. Very stylish in the studio and home.
The close-up below gives a glimpse of the wicker chair.
The backdrop is standard, though a little dated for the mid-1890s. No attempt to fill the physical plate with image was made. The picture was most likely received in a paper sleeve or frame, covering the dark edges. |
- Dress Design
- Studio Setting
- Tintype Quality
At PhotoTree we don't want every case study to be a perfect photo or easy to date. That is not the real-world situation for many mysteries the researcher encounters.
This slightly abused tintype, with one subject very blurry from moving her head, is still worth trying to identify. They appear to be sisters dressed in their finest apparel.
There are several clues as to the date, and even a couple as to location of sorts.
Appears To Be Mid-1890s
A couple of solid clues put this picture in the mid 1890s. One is the ladies' dresses, particularly the style of shoulders and sleeves. We have highlighted the large shoulders and sleeves many times in case studies because it is one of the most dependable style clues available. They grew to large proportions in the mid-1890s, returning to more practical sizes late in the decade.
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Est. Date: 1895 +/- 1 Year
Location Speculation
There is an initial puzzlement about this tintype. By the 1890s tintypes were very seldom used as a serious or formal photography medium. Paper photograph quality had improved so much that they pushed the tintype out of mainstream photography; mostly found now at carnivals, seaside resorts, or cheap tintype parlors.
These ladies look as if this was to be a formal portrait of themselves. However it is possible, they were out for a Sunday stroll, and had it made along the boardwalk or elsewhere. Besides the obvious blur of one gal, the overall sharpness and quality is poor.
Another reason to discount the setting as a professional studio setting is the haphazard way the set is put together. No attempt is made to blend the backdrop into the scene. It just stops abruptly, touching the rough carpet floor. |