Figure 1.-- This unidentified child looks to be about 4 years old. His CDV portrait was taken in Bournnmouth at the George Nesbitt on Norwich Road. We would guess that this portrait was taken in the late-1860s or 70s. It was with a lot of 1870s CDVs. We think the child is a boy, although center parts often indicated the child was a girl. We can't make out much about the dress. We don't make out much of a collar. We see long sleeves and a button-up front. He wears strap shoes with a pom. He looks to be holding an Easter basket and there is a sports racquet to the side.

This unidentified child looks to be about 4 years old. His CDV portrait was taken in Bournnmouth at the George Nesbitt on Norwich Road. We would guess that this portrait was taken in the late-1860s or 70s. It was with a lot of 1870s CDVs. We think the child is a boy, although center parts often indicated the child was a girl. We can't make out much about the dress. We don't make out much of a collar. We see long sleeves and a button-up front. He wears strap shoes with a pom. He looks to be holding an Easter basket and there is a sports racquet to the side. A reader writes, "I would guess the child is a girl. The sports item is for a girls sports activity. Also the subject is holding a basket. Looks very feminine." Another reader writes,"I think there are a few gender indicators here that the child is a boy. The dress is front buttoned. The legs are crossed at calf level. There is a tennis raquet leaning against the chair on the left. The dress is coloured as the white trim and buttons contrast with the fabric. At first I thought there was some elaborate trim on the skirt but I think the two ruffled ribbons are trim from the basket. The child's features are boyish. The collar looks to be an upturned extension around the neck of the of the yoke rather than a stitched collar." The discussion of the raquet is interesting. Sports were very much a male domain in the 1870s. There were a few exceptions. Raquet cames like badminton and tennis were spoorts played by both men and women. We would guess that the raquet here is for badmiton.

Created: 10:12 PM 1/30/2012
Last updated: 10:13 PM 1/30/2012