Figure 1.--This German boy got a goodie cone (Zuckertute / Schultütenfor) his first day at school. He wears a fancy velvet suit with a ruffeled collar and floppy bow. Most younger German boys like this wore long stockings to school, especially in cold weather. Most images we have seen show the boys wearing flat-weave stockings.

This German boy got a goodie cone for his first day at school. Most younger German boys like this wore long stockings to school, especially in cold weather. Most images we have seen show the boys wearing flat-weave stockings. A reader writes, "The velvet of the outfit and the oversized buttons makes me think the child came from an affluent rural family, but I am only guessing." HBC isn't convinced that the boy came from a rural family, but the reader raises an interesting question about the boy's family and the outfit here. Unfortunately there is no information associate with the photograph.

The Boy

We have no infirmation about the boy here. We do know that since he was just starting school that he was probably 6 years old. That is all we know for sure.

The Family

A reader writes, ""The velvet of the outfit and the oversized buttons makes me think the child came from an affluent rural family, but I am only guessing." It is true that rural families were common out of fashion. This was especilly true before the movies, but since the appearance of television after World War II and the greater mobility provided by cars differences between rural and urban clothing have generally disappeared. At the time this portrait was taken, probany the early 20s, there were differences between urban and rural clothing. But HBC is not convinced that is what is at play here. Rather this seems to us an outfit put together by a fauning mother was using slightly out of date fashions. The early 1920s was an era when the older styles had not quite sidappeared, but newswe styles were just appearing. And the portrait here was of a younger boy just beginning school. Thus mom still dictated how he dressed. I think the velvet suit, ruffled collar, floppy bow, and large buttons were all mother's fashion doing. I think that the mother in a wealthy family would have had a little better fashion sence. A poor famoly could afford the velvet suit. Perhaps we have here a middle class family where the mother aspires to a higher status.

Chronology

The portrait here is undated. We think it was taken in the early-20s. The late 1910s is possible, but we think it doesn't have the feel of a World War I portrait. We think the early 20s is more likely. One we reason we think it could be a 1910s portrait is the small size of the cone. Sugar because it was imported became hard to get because of the World War I British Royal Navy blockade. As a result, candy became hard to get.

Location

We know the boy is German, but we have no idea where in Germany the portrait was taken.

First School Day

It was very popular to take a child's portrait in his first day of school. We know that is the case here because he has a goodie cone or "Zuckertute"/"Schultüten". Childrem received these cones to help celebrate their first day of school, a stressful time for many children. Not all children received these cones, but we know that the children with them are celebrating theior first day at school. We know that this is his scout outfit also becaise he has his book satchel and lunch carrier.

Clothing

The boy here has a sailor cap. Mote the wide streamer. The sailor cap could be worn with all sorts of outfits and not just sailor suits. We are guessing, however, that this boy also had a sailor suit. He wears a fancy velvet suit with a ruffeled collar and floppy bow. We would guess that the suit was black and the bow probably red. The coat has wrist cuffs matching the collar. It is a knee pants suit which he wears with long stockings and high-top shoes. Most younger German boys like this wore long stockings to school, especially in cold weather. Most images we have seen show the boys wearing flat-weave stockings. A reader writes, "Although I have no idea, the buttons did fascinate me. Would the boy's fanily have the resources to have such a suit especially designed for him, I wonder." Well it was still very common for mothers to sew children's clothes. We suspect that is what was involved here. While sewing a boy's suit is more complicated than a girl's dress, it was done. And of course mother could make the button's any size she wanted. That is our take on the suit. Perhaps other HBC readers may have insights on this.

Hair Cut

The boy looks to have short hair cut in banhs at the front.