Author Topic: Dating old photograph?  (Read 4739 times)

sapphire

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Re: Dating old photograph?
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2012, 08:11:54 am »
Well I took the paper backing off the frame......it feels and handles like a many years old dry tree leaf.  It's amazing what a simple piece of paper hides behind it!

An extremely thin wood 'shingle' held in place with what appear to be hand made nails covered a page out of an art book of some sort. Henry Graves &  Co. has quite the history in itself!  Near as I could find they were still printing under that name in 1901, a few years later it apparently joined another company and published under both names. The back side, which only bears a page number, clearly shows the impression from the printing process.

On to the 'backing' of the photo itself, which I thought was likely similar to a card stock. It's a thinner piece of paper, similar to a book page that seems to have been tinted around the edges. (Handwritten notation on the 'art book' page states 1" Brown.....possibly instructions?) Interestingly, the side facing me bore a 'picture', likely a copy of a painting by another artist. From carefully moving the paper away from the edges of the photo (which itself is firmly affixed to the 'card' that bears the photo and the photographers embossing) I can't see anything printed on the back as is shown in the examples of their work in a previous link I posted. I think the paper is glued full surface with the exceptions of around the edges. There may be printed text beneath but no way to tell.

For a few minutes I thought I might have to change the old lady's name from Hannah to something more fitting of royalty but a quick read through gave me the date of Gainsborough's work. I think my lady is definitely more interesting than his duchess  ;)

sapphire

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Re: Dating old photograph?
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2012, 08:14:31 am »
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sapphire

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Re: Dating old photograph?
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2012, 08:17:43 am »
And yet more .....  ;)

sapphire

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Re: Dating old photograph?
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2012, 08:22:41 am »
'Backing' of the photograph......whi ch bears the above photo on the other side

I am no closer to discovering who she might be or pinpointing a closer date, but it was interesting, informative and best of all, exciting.


sapphire

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Re: Dating old photograph?
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2012, 08:34:44 am »
Tales, your mention of 60's to 80's and that site you gave me certainly seem in line. I noticed a couple under the Civil War era that were similar in style. Also, in the photo I posted of another woman done by the same company (who bears a strong resemblance to 'my' lady) she is wearing the same type of 'bonnet' style and it's believed that that was taken possibly in the 70's and reproduced much later.  You definitely have an eye for the fashions of those times. ;)