Figure 1.-- This English ambrotype shows a boy about 7 years old, perhaps 8 years. He is wearing a tunic. We do not know what color the tunic was, but blue would seem a likely possibility. Here is a colorized version showing how the tunic may have looked. To see the actual ambrotype without the corization, click on the image. Image courtesy of the BP collectiom.

This English ambrotype shows a boy about 7 years old, perhaps 8 years. We make that assessment because of how the boy looks. Another factor is that a boy from his social class would attend private schools. In the 1850s preparatory (private primary) schools were just beginning to be founded. Public (privaste secondary) schools still excepted quite young children. We believe that this boy has not yet begun his preparatory or public school, in part because I don't think that by the 1850s or 60s he would have worn a tunic to school, although this is just a preliminary assessment. He is wearing a tunic. We do not know what color the tunic was, but blue as depicted here would seem a likely possibility. We welcome reader insights here. Notice the dark highlight stripping. I am not sure if that was ribbon or velvet. This boy wears his tunic with a large white collar and bow. We do not know if the collar has pointefd or rounded collars. The ambtotype format probably dates the image to the late 1850s, although the early 60s is possible. The outfit and fact he had a portrait made of himself alone suggests that he came from an affluent family. An interesting aspect of the boy's outfit here is the relatively large bow.