Figure 1.--Here we see aportrait of two unidentified children We know rhet are Engkish. The portrait was taken at the Eastmid Studios in Peterborough. While the portrait is not dated, the mount style suggests it was taken about the turn-of-the 20th century. The dress stling can also be dated, but we are less sure about the how to date dress styles. The children certainly look tobe boys, but it was not very common for boys this age to wear dressess by the turn-of-the 20th century.

Here we see a portrait of two unidentified children We know rhet are English. The portrait was taken at the Eastmid Studios in Peterborough. While the portrait is not dated, the mount style suggests it was taken about the turn-of-the 20th century. White furniture is another turn-of-the century indicator. The dress styling can also be dated, but we are less sure about the how to date dress styles. The children certainly look to be boys, but it was not very common for boys this age to wear dressess by the turn-of-the 20th century. The center hair part commonly is a girlish indicator, but center parts at the turn-of-the 20th century were stylish for boys, at least in America. They have boyish cuts, but girls alo could wear short hair. We are less sure about Britain. The children seem to be twins. They are wearing nearly identical fashionable dressess. We only see a small difference in the neck treatment. There are boyish collars with what looks like a very small bow. The dresses are smocked with very high waistlines and very full sleeves. The dresses look to be white, although a very light pastel is possible. The children also wear white long stockings and low-cut shoes. The hem is calf high. Books were sometimes used as props to indicate boys. Here we see some kind of magazine. We are not sure if this is a gender indicator.

Unidentified

Here we see a portrait of two unidentified children All we We know fir sure is that they are English.

Age

A reader asks, "Would you say the ages of the two boys are 9 and 7 years? We are not sure the children are boys. We thonk this is a good estimate of the ages, perhaps they were a bit older. We had the idea that they were twins, about the same age.

Location

The portrait was taken at the Eastmid Studios in Peterborough. Peterborough is a cathedral city locted firectly nort of London in eastern England. It is located within Cambridgeshire. about 75 miles north of London. Peterborough is an important stop on the East Coast Main Line.

Date

While the portrait is not dated, the mount style suggests it was taken about the turn-of-the 20th century. White furniture is another turn-of-the century indicator. The dress styling can also be dated, but we are less sure about the how to date dress styles.

Gender

The children certainly look to be boys, but it was not very common for boys this age to wear dressess by the turn-of-the 20th century. A reader writes, "I think these two children are girls. The age, style of dress, and posture suggests they are girls. I agree, however, that the short hair and perhaps the facial features are boyish." We are not sure about the posture. Note the one child sitting down has not crossed his or her legs at the ankles. But this could be because of the foot stool. Crossing the legs with a foot stool was less common. The children certainly look like boys. Give the approximate date and the age of the children they are most likely girls, but there is no way to be sure about this. There clothing and the quality of the porteait certainly suggest that they come from an affluent fmily. If they were tutored at home, of course, mother had more lattitude as to how they were dressed.

Hair

The center hair part commonly is a girlish indicator, but center parts at the turn-of-the 20th century were stylish for boys, at least in America. They have boyish cuts, but girls alo could wear short hair. We are less sure about Britain. The children seem to be twins.

Dresses

The children are wearing nearly identical fashionable dressess. We only see a small difference in the neck treatment. There are boyish collars with what looks like a very small bow. One reader comments on the children's dress collars. "They are exceptionally large for a girl's dress. I hadn't appreciated this when I first viewed the photograph. The subejct matter of the book looks more like something a boy would view than a girl. It looks agricultural to me. I see a figure of a farmer or peasant. I am beginning to have doubts about my assertion that they are girls. It is very interesting." The dresses are smocked with very high waistlines and very full sleeves. We were say that they were done in flannel. The dresses look to be white, although a very light pastel is possible. The hem is calf high. At least one of the children has leading strings on the left shoulder. A reader writes, "I am wondering if the two boys are wearing night gowns. That may explain the dresses. Back in the turn of the 20th century the style was popular." Well the material does seem to be flannel, but the nedk treament and sleeves do not look like a nighgown to me. Portraits of children in nightgowns at the time are very rare. And notice that they are wearing shoes and stockings which would be unusual if they were photographed in their nightgowns.

Other Clothing

The children also both wear white long stockings and low-cut shoes. They look to us like rather boyish shoes, but we suspect that they could be worn by both boys and girls.

Props

Books were sometimes used as props to indicate boys. Here we see some kind of magazine. We are not sure if this is a gender indicator. A reader writes, "There are no boyish accessories, such as toys to indicate gender. I have magnified and rotated a close up of the book/pamphlet they are reading. There seems to be very little text, only pictures some of which are quite kaege. I can't make out the nature of the subject matter, which is a pity." The white Napoleonic-stle bench (I'm not sure about the proper term) is a chronological indicator, but not a gender indicator. A reader tells us that the bench/stool is called a Chateau stool, although it might be a Vanity stool. Our reader tells us,"King stools are similar but with higher ends. It is difficult to tell as one end is hidden. Vanity Stools and King stools seat only one. I have studied the photo again. It is a Vanity stool. You can see a fragment of the far end between the two children. It is a one-seater stool. I think the footstool is a studio prop to give the girl a horizontal lap on which to balance the book." The bench/stool also proably helps identify the studio as a upper-class studio. Putting a pillow affair for the one child's feet may be a gender indicator.

Created: 4:12 AM 12/27/2011
Last updated: 2:47 AM 12/28/2011