Figure 1.--The English family here was from Eton or Oxford. The photographer was Hills & Saunders from Eton & Oxford. The boys wear matching suits with cut-away jackets, Notice the matching jackets and bloomer knickers. The photograph is undated, but we would guess the 1860s.

Here we see an English family with the brothers wearing the juvenile cut-away jacket suits (figure 1). The English family here was from Eton or Oxford. The photographer was Hills & Saunders from Eton & Oxford. The boys wear matching suits with cut-away jackets. These suits were often worn with small white collars. Modest neckwear was optional. Notice the matching jackets and bloomer knickers. The boys here wear small little tied bows. The photograph is undated, but we would guess the 1860s. The little girl holds a baby dolll anf wears a dress with a hint of sailor styling, The dress is rather long, below calf level. Her pantalettes can just be seen at the hem. She has white long stockings and strap shoes.

Identity

Here we see an English family with the brothers wearing the juvenile cut-away jacket suits (figure 1). Unfortunately the family is unidentified. The boys are clearly brothers. The little girl seems rather stand offish, but is surely their sister.

Location

All we know about the English family here was from Eton or Oxford. The photographer was Hills & Saunders from Eton & Oxford.

Chronology

This portrait is undated. We believe that it was probably taken in the 1860s. As it is a CDV, it could not have been taken in the 1850s. It might hsave been taken in the 1870s, but it looks more like the 1860s to us. We would be interested in reader comments on this. One reader writes, "I am not quite sure but I think this could be second half of 1860s, 1865-70. Somehow the the arrangement and the posing seems less severe than images I have noted from the early 1860s." HBC agrees here. One reason for the stiff poses was the slow speed of the film. Advances in photography gradually allowed more realistic posing.

Clothing

The boys here wear matching suits with cut-away jackets. Notice that the suits are very plainly done but elegant. These suits were often worn with small white collars. Modest neckwear was optional. Notice the matching jackets and bloomer knickers. We only note boys from fashionable, affluent families wearing knickers like this. Most boys wore long pants , even younger boys. The boys here wear small little tied bows. The boys light-colored, but now white long stockings. The little girl holds a baby dolll anf wears a dress with a hint of sailor styling, The dress is rather long, below calf level. Her pantalettes can just be seen at the hem. She has white long stockings and strap shoes.