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This American portait is interesting not only because of the clothing and hair style, but because it was made to be hung on the wall--a novel way of displaying photographs at the time. This is a wonderful tin-type portrait of three Detroit brothers. The boys are standing straigt as arrows for the portrait. The children are clearly wearing hand-made clothes, mostly made of a checked material. The two younger boys have identical bloomer knicker suits. Its a little difficult to make out the construction details. I think they are two piece suits, an upper piece or blouse on to which the matching pants button. The waist piece I think hides the buttons. The older boy wears long pants made out of the same material. Also note how the younger boys have their hair done with a top curl. The portrait is cased in an oval frame. The children's cheeks have been lightly tinted. The oval fram could be hung on the wall, but it is relatively small, 4" tall by 3.5". The oval frame suggests to us that the portrait was taken in the late 1860s or early 70s. The portrait could have been taken earlier, but early tin-types were often done in cases like those for Daguerreotypes or Ambrotypes. We are not sure when wall hung photographs first appeared, but this surely is an early example. Both the clothes and the small size of the portrait are indicators that it was an early example.
This is a wonderful tin-type portrait of three Detroit brothers. They look to be about 2-8 years of age. They are rather stylishly done and the younger boys have fancy hair styles. This suggests to us that they came from an affluent Detroit family.
The photographer was J.W. Hughes in West Detroit. . The boys are standing straigt as arrows for the portrait. This of course was necessary because of slow exposure tgimes.
The children's cheeks have been lightly tinted.
The children are clearly wearing hand-made clothes, mostly made of a checked material. I'm not sure what color this would have been. The two younger boys have identical bloomer knicker suits. Its a little difficult to make out the construction details. I think they are two piece suits, an upper piece or blouse on to which the matching pants button. The waist piece I think hides the buttons. The older boy wears long pants made out of the same material.
Also note how the younger boys have their hair done with a top curl. The older boy's hair is done in a more mature style, short hair with a part. His hair looks more like the late 60s because boys in the 1850s and early 60s often had somewhat longer hair doen to their ears.
The portrait is cased in an oval wood frame for wall hanging. The oval fram could be hung on the wall, but it is relatively small, 4" tall by 3.5". The oval frame suggests to us that the portrait was taken in the late 1860s or early 70s. The portrait could have been taken earlier, but early tin-types were often done in cases like those for Daguerreotypes or Ambrotypes. We are not sure when wall hung photographs first appeared, but this surely is an early example. Both the clothes and the small size of the portrait are indicators that it was an early example.
A German reader writes, "I don't know enough about tintypes to say much here. As these early
pictures are simlply too expensive I don't have them (unfortunately). If I remember correctly tintypes where always one-of-a-kind so no enlargements. And versions for hanging on the wall were not uncommon. There where ambrotypes and daguerreotypes framed for the wall as well. The boys' clothing does not look like 1870s to me . That must be earlier. "
Yes, I think the 1860s is more likely. Tin-types appeared in the 1850s so anytime during the 60s is possible. My guess, however, is that it was the late 60s. I'm not sdure I would definitely rule out the early 70s, but would agree the 60s is more likely. So far, however, I don't have any dated framed portraits like this for wall hanging.
I have never heard of dags and ambrotypes that were used for wall hangings. I think this must have been uncimmon, especially dags. One problem would have been cost. Dag plates were rather expensive. But we do not yet have details on ealy framing trends, one of many interesting photographic trends we need to address.
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