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Photo Dating Children Fashions by Decade 1840 - 1910, Infants and Toddlers 1840 Through 1940, Older Kids 1840 - 1910 Infants (12months) and toddlers. Dating infants is best achieved by dating the photographic process, we stress this enough. See "History of Photographic Processes". The image can be on copper, glass, tin, or paper. The shape, color, size and information on them can also give clue as to the decade. The background or any object visible can be researched. If you can't determine the physical properties it was made of then you have to try to scrutinize the clothes. In all decades it was the custom to add elements of the current clothing trends of adults to children's clothes including the white gown on infants. The collar may be wide like the 1890's or sleeves off the shoulder like in the 1840s and 50s, the scalloped hems in 1870s. All infants boys and girls wore long dresses like these until they could walk. As they got older and began to crawl they would get shorter. I like to quote a Godey's book that explains trending fashions overlapping decades," Fashions creep into vogue and out again with such stealth that the center of popularity can only be approximated. This chronology consequently, is variable and by no means all-inclusive." By repeating what we see in each photograph you will develop a sense of what to look for. You will start to recognize what is the same and the differences of each decade as they overlap and drop off completely.
1840 to 1850 would be a daguerreotype or ambrotype. This toddler has off the shoulder sleeves tied with bows and pleats and a full skirt. Photographer hand painted a touch of color They are called "case images" and can be made of copper in the case of the Daguerreotype, glass such as the Ambrotype and later in around 1860's, thin iron called Tintypes. See "History of Photographic Processes".
1840 to 1850 daguerreotype or ambrotype This infant has off the shoulder dress, seen better in the tintype below. The detail in infant clothing is usually lost due to being white, luckily the mother gives away the decade. Photographer hand painted a touch of color
1860s case image, is possibly a Daguerreotype, Ambrotype and in this case a Tintype. Photographer hand painted a touch of color Popular custom of photographing children with a parent hiding. Bare shoulders Scalloped edge hem. Plane background
1868 card de visit in several pastel colors and in this case, pale blue mount became very popular with photographers. Square corners of mount and square photo Curtain is used to hide the person holding the baby up. No writing on front mount. Photographer stamp can also help determine the decade. "History of Photographic Processes".
1865 This is not an infant but if you see this little paper frame you have a tintype in a "cartouche". Tintypes never needed to be in a case because they are really iron and called tin because tinning shears were used to cut them, it was just tradition to put photos in a case. Soon the custom was to put them out of bulky box into envelops called a cartouche, this one is about 1861. When the civil war began the "cartouche" was easier to mail and began to show patriotic symbols. Read more "History of Photographic Processes".
The following images are called Albumen photographs made of very thin paper that needed to be mounted or they would curl up. Dating the mount by photography physical property trends are the clue to dating these images.
1870 card de visit, narrow long sleeves scalloped hem
1880s cabinet card, albumen print double gold lines
1890s 1910 Albumen print on generous mount Sleeve caps and ruffles
"History of Photographic Processes".
Breeching (boys) - Custom of dressing boys in dresses until they are potty trained about the age from 2-8 years of age. The term came from the name of breeches. The practice came to an end after WWI (1918).
1840 - 1850 case image out of it's case plain background covered ears middle part barrel curls bare shoulders fingerless gloves
1840 - 1850
Photo Dating Notes:
1848
Photo Dating Notes: case image daguerreotype ringlets/barrel curls middle part small white lace collar off the shoulder seams pleated bodice wide sleeves plain background
1850 Photo Dating Notes: off the shoulder seams fan pleated bodice wide sleeves coral necklace short hair, middle part ears showing, head band squared toe shoes holding chair for support support stand seen behind feet full body shot
1850
Photo Dating Notes: Case image, Daguerreotype bare shoulders fan pleated bodice ears showing short hair, middle part locket coral necklace plain background
Photo Dating Notes: 1850 Case image bare shoulders center part in hair ringlets/barrel curls cartridge pleads on skirt plain background table cloth
1850 Photo Dating Notes: Bonnet off the face large wide bow tie wide sleeves wide collar
1850 Photo Dating Notes: Case image, Daguerreotype pin curls flat to face center part in hair bare shoulders plain background
1850
Photo Dating Notes: Case image, Daguerreotype bare shoulders center part in hair flat pin curls cartridge pleads on skirt plain background paisley table cloth
1860
1860
Photo Dating Notes: case image fan pleated bodice wide hem ringlets/barrel curls white stockings coral necklace plain background full body shot
1860 Photo Dating Notes: ringlets/barrel curls, middle parts bare shoulders stabilizing stand present behind feet plain background pattern floor full body shot
1860 Photo Dating Notes:
Mathew Brady photo boy with side part square bow tie scalloped edge souave jacket side button boots plain background sitting and full body shot
1860 Photo Dating Notes: short narrow lapels only top button used full sleeves high waist coat fringe chair plain backdrop curtain light mound with square corners square photo corners sitting position
1860 Photo Dating Notes:
1865 Photo Dating Notes: Daguerreotype wide bow tie turn down collar wide brim hat plain background
1865 Photo Dating Notes: Souave jacket of the shoulder seams pointed bodice full skirt full sleeve fringed chair plain backdrop light card stock with single gold line
1868
Photo Dating Notes: card de visit, albumen print card stock double gold line trending at this time. Souave jacket, curl ontop of boys' head. ringlets on little girl around this time, dress going out of style.
1868 Photo Dating Notes: Scotch tartans were at the height of popularity fringe chair light color mount double gold line and square corners on mount square corners on photo
1868 Photo Dating Notes: bow tie full sleeves double gold line square corners on photo sitting position shoe string shoes with contrast tips
1870
Card de Viste, albumen print 1870 early bustle period pleats were the trend and is reflected in childrens clothing, shown here.
1870 Photo Dating Notes: single gold line on mount light mount square corners on mount and photo short narrow lapels single breast 4 button jacket pillar backdrop turn down collar short hair square toe shoe
1870 Photo Dating Notes: tintype pleated skirt large lace collars side button boots
1870 Photo Dating Notes: double gold line on mount Lord Fauntleroy suit, large collar with large bow, knee length pants, dark stockings fur throw rug no stabilizing tools standing position foliage backdrop
1880 Photo Dating Notes: 1888 James Joyce, author, age six
Photo Dating Notes:
Little Lord Fauntlroy Published in 1886 "Little Lord Fauntlroy" was written by Francis Hodgson Burnett who popularized this style of dress for boys after a character in her book, who was really her own son. The style appears to be similar to Buster Brown a shoe trademark created in 1902 by Richard Fenton Outcault, "Buster" and his dog, Tiger. They were as famous in their time as Charlie Brown is today. The Buster Brown collar is wide, flat, round and sometimes with or without a ruffle, usually worn with a floppy bow tie, characteristic of boys' shirts from 1880-1920.
Buster Brown was comic strip created in 1902. It was a suit; knickers with a short jacket and a huge bow and a matching flat round hat.
There was a book by Frances Hodgson Burnett in 1885 that mentioned this suit that became a fad. Knickers (knickerbockers) were worn by young boys, The knee pants were full, closed at the knee with buckles, buttons or simply cut off at the knee. The age of boys wearing knee pants gradually increased in the late 1880.
By 1900 even older teenagers, boys of 18 and 19 years of age were commonly wearing knee pants. The pants worn by boys in the 20th Century have varied widely by decade and country. American boys commonly wore knickers in the 1920s and 30s, but in the 1940s increasingly wore long pants. English and European boys commonly wore short pants, but long pants became more common beginning in the 1960s. Since the 1970s American and European boys have begun wearing very similar styles of clothes, both for dress suits as well as casual wear.
1910 Photo Dating Notes:
a white variation of the lord Fauntleroy
1910
Photo Dating Notes: haircut wide collar sometimes called "Peter Pan"
Photo Dating Notes: Norfolk suit
1890
1890 Photo Dating Notes: wide white collar tartan dress sitting position light photo mount square corners on mount and photo
1890 Photo Dating Notes: short hair bowler narrow pants narrow short lapels turn down collar bowtie no stabilizing tools
1890 Photo Dating Notes:
wicker furniture fur throw rug side button shoes short straight bangs
1890 Photo Dating Notes:
outdoor scenery backdrop tartan
1890 Photo Dating Notes: 5x7 Cabinet Card scalloped edge mount light color mount lord fauntleroy collar, bow tie, knee pants, side button shoes curly bangs pie crust collar outdoor scenery backdrop
1890 Photo Dating Notes:
1890 Photo Dating Notes:
1900
1900 Photo Dating Notes:
The sailor suit in 1910 or was one of the most popular outfits for German boys. Germany was at the time, building the Imperial German Navy.
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With Photographs
Scrapbooking Inspirations and Solutions Handling and Storage of Photographic Materials Image Editing Consultant Since 1999!
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Last Update Always a work in progress, please visit often. We apologist for any long periods between entries some times medical issues prevail. Rev. 06/23/2017
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