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Scottish boys are strongly associated with kilts, but we see a lot of boys wearing tunics in the mid-19th centuryabd suspect it was also the case in the rarly-19th century. Tunics may have been more common thmn kilts. Cost may have been a factor. We have very limited information at this time about the early-19th century. Before the invention of photography there are relatively few images to be had. But we have a few. We see a wealthy family styling themselves the Mckays departing the Highlands for New Zealand in 1844. Two of the four boys wore kilts, the other two a dress and a tunic. The link takes you to the left group, to see the boy wearing the tunic, put your cursor on the image to see the right group. His tunic has been done in plaid to give it a Scottish look. The Mckays wanted their departure memorialized in a Highland scene despite the fact they left from London.
Even with theinvention of photogrphy, our Scottish archive is still relatively limited. We do note one aristocratic boy, John Napier, wearing a tunic outfit in 1858. We have noted English and other European boys wearing tunics in the early-19th century and suspect that Scottish boys did so as well, at least in the cities. We have, however, no confirmation of this from the early decades of the century. With the advent of photography we are able to follow the fashion trends. We note Scottish boys wearing tunics at mid-century. The styles seem similar to those we see English boys wearing at the time. We do not know how prevakent they were. Younger Scottish boys at the turn-of-the 20th century wore tunics as was common in England. They do not, however, seem as common as in America. The portrait seen in the prevuous page was undated, but was probably taken in the early-1900s, perhaps about 1905. It was taken in Ayr.
We have very limited information at this time about the early-19th century. Before the invention of photography there are relatively few images to be had. But we have a few. We have noted English and other European boys wearing tunics in the early-19th century and suspect that Scottish boys did so as well, at least in the cities. We have, however, no confirmation of this from the early decades of the century.
The Royal Family gave the idea kilts for boys a boost in the 1840s. We also see Prince Bertie wearing a tunic. We see a wealthy family styling themselves the Mckays departing the Highlands for New Zealand in 1844. Two of the four boys wore kilts, the other two a dress and a tunic. The link takes you to the left group, to see the boy wearing the tunic, put your cursor on the image to see the right group. His tunic has been done in plaid to give it a Scottish look. The Mckays wanted their departure memorialized in a Highland scene despite the fact they left from London.
Even with the invention of photogrphy, our Scottish archive is still relatively limited. We do note one aristocratic boy, John Napier, wearing a tunic outfit in 1858. With the advent of photography we are able to follow the fashion trends. We note Scottish boys wearing tunics at mid-century/ The styles seem similar to those we see English boys wearing at the time. We do not know how prevalent they were.
We only have one 1860s Scottish image ar this time. We have more English images and we suspect that the syles would be similar. , although we are less sure about prevalence. Here we have one side of a Scottish stereoview showing two boys, presumably brothers, wearing belted tunics scaling a wall with ivy. The boys are wearing Glengaries and long pants with their matching tunics. An old man sawing logs and their little sister is watching them. This would have been a staged scene, but it does tellus that in addition to the tunics we see in studio portraits that were dressy outfits, the tunic was akso worn as an everyday garment. We think the company is Sawyer, but we are not sure. The card is not dated, but we think it dates to the 1860s. These stereoscope cards appeared in the 1850s with the development of albumen prints, and were widespread by the 1860s. The albumen process is the same process used for CDVs and cabinet cards. People at the time were not flooded with images. Books and magazines existed, but images were very rare. All of a sudden with sterescope images of giraffs, elephants, African rivers, and Asian mountains could be availan;e in home libraries. All middle class homes had sterescopes in the prlor and in america even working-class families could have them, although the family collection of cards would be more limited.
This CDV portrait here shows brothers Andrew and La??? Murray (figure 1). They look to be about 8-12 years old. Andrew wears a tunic suit trimed with buttons and a waist belt. with long stockings and strap shoes. His big brother wears a lapel jacket abd vest suit with long pants. We would guess that the portrait was taken in the 1870s, probably the 1870s. The studio was G.W. Wilson in Aberdeen.
Younger Scottish boys at the turn-of-the 20th century wore tunics as was common in England. They so not, however, seem as common as in America. The portrait seen here was undated, but was probably taken in the early-1900s, perhaps about 1905 (figure 1). It was taken in Ayr.
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