Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

Fred Taylor

Mrs Marvel

4 comments

January 27, 2015

Fred Taylor W

Fred Taylor leans on a chair

This CDV shows a man with fine whiskers, a fine coat and bow tie, clean if rumpled suit of clothes, and brogan style shoes, leaning his hand upon the back of a chair. I originally thought this photo was interesting but it didn’t really catch my eye. However, I took note of the weight of the pink paper it is mounted upon. This paper is slightly thicker than gift tissue paper, slightly finer than printer paper. It is quite delicate and I have not seen its like before now. What also caught my eye as I scanned the photo is that the lower edge of the photo was lifting slightly.

What mystery did it reveal, you ask? Take a look for yourself.

The man, revealed

The man, revealed

There in the corner on the back of the photo itself, is the name. Fred Taylor. I can’t tell you more than that, for as you can probably see the photo lacks a backmark or any photographer’s information. It came in the batch from England, but beyond that…. Fred remains a mystery.

 

The reclining tot

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

January 25, 2015

Reclining tot W

Just take a nap, dearie

This sweet little photograph shows a girl in repose, resting her head on her hand as though she is thinking deep thoughts. As I often do, I wonder what color her dress was. I am currently working on a dress for my daughter that is teal silk with raspberry ribbon trim, and so I am going to imagine this dress in those colors as well. I do wonder why the entire chair was covered by a blanket. Was it to manky for her liking? Did the photographer not want her wee shoes on his fine chair?

Reclining tot back

Photographer and Artist, A.D. Lewis

The back reveals that the image was made by Photographer and Artist A. D. Lewis at 113 Scotswood Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. This may have been a secondary studio as it also indicates that “Old No. 5 Hinde St. Studio Unchanged.” I’m taking a guess at the decade of this portrait being made as the 1870s. There are slightly rounded corners, possibly due to age, but the weight of the card is not as light as those in the 1860s. The red ink used is unusual, but not unheard of, so that doesn’t help me. The style of dress is suggestive of the 1860s, but the style carried over to the 70s. Effectively I’m guessing by process of elimination. Anyone who knows better please feel free to comment and correct me. :-)

 

 

Artistic photograph shows long hair

Mrs Marvel

18 comments

January 22, 2015

Lush locks

Lush locks

Turning to a new source of photographs, I am delighted with this artistic image of a lovely young woman. She shows her unbound hair and is draped with a white robe. It’s rather suggestive for the times, don’t you think? It brings to mind a woman as she readies herself for sleep, brushing out her hair while in her dressing gown. To the proper Victorians, this might have been quite intimate. Her pose in profile, looking skyward is prescient of the glamorous movie shots of the 1930s. All we lack is back lighting and Max Factor.

Lush locks back

Window & Grove Photographers, London

As you can see on the back of the mount, this was made by Window & Grove, photographers to the Royal Family at 63A Baker Street, Portman Square, London W. The address is reminiscent of another Baker Street house. Do you know which one?

My knowledge of photographers in Britain is limited on the best of days, and my knowledge of the geography of Britain is fairly limited as well. I can find London on a map and I’m aware that Scotland, Wales and Ireland are all parts of the greater British Isles. I could not tell you if this was a tony address as I could of a New York city direction, however, so if anyone is so inclined to enlighten us all, please do in the comments.

I am putting this up as a return to Sepia Saturday, the blog party that takes you to vintage photo websites from around the world! Sepia Saturday doesn’t require following a theme although a thematic prompt is provided every week. I discovered in the past that I focused so much on meeting the theme that I lost the fun in the old photos. And, after a refocus of this site on 19th century photos, a return to Sepia Saturday seems in order as well. So, press the button, my friend! Send me back in time…

Trot on over!

Big Buttons

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

January 22, 2015

Large buttons, big bow, frilly lace

Large buttons, big bow, frilly lace

I would really love to see the rest of this dress, because it has so many features just in this tiny portrait. We have large decorative buttons that appear to be velvet covered, a large bow at the center of the neckline, and frilly lace standing up under the young lady’s chin. I like to imagine she worked hard on making this dress and that it is a bustle dress with lovely draping on the skirt that mirrors the velvet trimming on the bodice. This is the last in the Saurman & Lovejoy set, but does not carry a backmark. She is unnamed and unknown.

Little boy

Mrs Marvel

no comments

January 21, 2015

Young master

Young master

Today let’s take a quick look at this young fellow. He is aged approximately 8 years old and was named James. You can just see it in pencil, written below the oval. It is a shame that whoever wrote that didn’t include his surname. There also is not a photographer’s backmark, and while it was included in the lot of photos including the Saurman and Lovejoy images, I cannot do more than assume this fellow is somehow related to those people. Alas, it doesn’t matter as only one of the bunch was identified and she continues to be a mystery.

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