Figure 1.--This Daguerreotype portrait was taken in the 1840s. We think the names were Louise, George, and Libbie Noyas. It is a good example of period girl's drsses. The boy's suit is less clear. All three children have long hair, but only the girls hair is done in ringlets. This is a common convention. We note that commonly when ringlets are worn by the children, they are usually done on the girls or on the boys, but not all of the children.

This is a portrait of three children. They look about 6-12 yeats old. While they are identified, we are not entirely sure about the names. This is a rare Daguerreotypre we have found where the individuals are identified. The identifification apparaently was written a few years after the Dag was taken because Louise has married and her married name is Davies. Unfortunately the writing is a little indestinct, especilly their last (family) name. We think it is Noyas, but we are not at all sure. Hopefully our HBC readers will be able to decphier the hand writing more definitively. WE are sure about Louise and Libbie, but are rather unsure about George, but the writing looks like "Geo.". We think the portrait was taken in the 1840s, but dating Dags is difficult. The portrait provides good views of the girls' dresses. One has an an open neck which was common for younger girls and the older girl has a collared neck dress. She has a detinctive necklass. The boy's suit is rather indestinct, but he has a shirt with a small collar, another common sttle.. All three children have long hair, but only the girls hair is done in ringlets.

The Children

This is a portrait of three children. They look about 6-12 yeats old. They look quite close, especially the two girls. We do not know, however, where they lived. They look well dressed and given the facts that Daguerreptype portraits were expensive we suspect tht the family lived in comfortable circumsances.

Identity

While they are identified, we are not entirely sure about the names. This is a rare Daguerreotypre we have found where the individuals are identified. There was an identification note left in the protective case. The identifification apparaently was written a few years after the Dag was taken because Louise has married and her married name is Davies. Unfortunately the writing is a little indestinct, especilly their last (family) name. We think it is Noyas, but we are not at all sure. Hopefully our HBC readers will be able to decphier the hand writing more definitively. WE are sure about Louise and Libbie, but are rather unsure about George, but the writing looks like "Geo.".

Chronology

We think the portrait was taken in the 1840s, but dating Dags is difficult. We are not yet capable of destinguising between 1840s and 50s styles, in part because we can not accurately date Dags. One indicator is the frame. We believe the plane frames were more common in the 1840s and gradually became more ornate. Thus we are guessing that this is a 40s Dag Here we welcome reader insights on dafing Daguerreotype portraits. The planeness of the frame is admotedly a very imperfect indicator. The pose is also an indicator. There is little ttempt at posing. The children are all squeezed togrther without any furniture or backdrop. This also suggests the 1840s to us.

Clothing

The portrait provides good views of the girls' dresses. One has an an open neck which was common for younger girls. Our knowledge of girl's dresses is limited, but we believe that these off the neck neckline dresses were a style for younger girls, although we are not entirelyv sure about the age conventions. The older girl has a collared neck dress. She has a detinctive necklass. It looks rather like a lanyard. It is very long and we can tell what is on the end. The boy's suit is rather indestinct, but he has a shirt with a small collar, another common sttle.

Hair Styles

All three children have long hair, but only the girls hair is done in ringlets. This is a common convention. We note that commonly when ringlets are worn by the children, they are usually done on the girls or on the boys, but not all of the children. Both men and boys might have longish hair in the 1840s and 50s. George's hair is a little longer than usual. Notice how the girls hair is parted down the middle while the boy has a side part.

Created: 7:12 PM 10/18/2008
Last edited: 7:12 PM 10/18/2008