IMAGES OF THE PAST
PHOTO CORNER
Costume historian & photo-dating expert Jayne Shrimpton shares advice to help you date your unidentified pictures and so put names to the faces of the past.
Jayne Shrimpton
The details of her ensemble help to pin down the date of her image. Her floor-length skirt is full, the flounced hem characteristic of much of the early-1900s.
Your family photos
Sue Luczka asks:
Here are two of my family photos. I think Photo 1 dates to 1903-1906, but I am puzzled why the person (who I have not yet identified) had her photo taken wearing a coat: I’ve not come across this before. Her hat is also very elaborate, so again I’m not sure what the occasion was for the photo being taken. Photo 2I would like dating. Please note, I am not responsible for the scribblings on the back! Also, do you think the two photos represent the same person? Thank you for your help.
Jayne Shrimpton replies:
PHOTO 1 is a professional studio portrait presented on a brownish-greyish card mount typical of the early-20th century. No printed studio details appear in this scan, so we must study the visual image, especially this lady’s appearance.