Figure 1.--This American CDV portrait was probably taken in the 1860s. Unfortunately like many early portraits available to HBC, it is unidentified. We do not know where in America it was taken or who thde child is. We are not even sure about the child's gender. Click on the image for an assessment.

This American CDV portrait was probably taken in the 1860s. Unfortunately like many early portraits available to HBC, it is unidentified. We do not know where in America it was taken or who thde child is. We are not even sure about the child's gender. Here HBC readers have provided differing assessments. This image was offered in an e-Bay auction. The seller identified the child as a boy. Thinking that the CDV mught have a name on the back, HBC contacted the seller. He replied, "There is no name on the back--nothing. From several years of doing 1860s CDVs the attire for this young person, with the hair style I can tell you for sure he is a boy from a wealthy family." Now HBC does not dispute that the child came from a wealthy family. Both the elegant dress and meticullosly rooled curls suggest that. We are not at all sure, however, that the child is a boy. The child's face does look rather like a boy, but with young children like this, it is impossible to tell with any certaintly by using the face. Certainly a child this age could have been outfitted in a dress and jacket like this. We do not see any thing about the dress, however, that would confirm that the child is a boy. Nor are we sure that the small book has gender connotations. Also ringlets in the 1860s could have been worn by both boys and girls. Here, however, there is one factor that suggests that the child may be a girl and that is the center part. Our ability to assess this image is, however, limited by several factor. We have so far collected only limited information on the ringlet curl fashion in the mid-19th century, especially gender connotation. In addition, the destintively styled boy dresses that appeared in the late-19th century, were not yet common in the mid-19th century when this portrait was taken.

Chronology

This American CDV portrait was probably taken in the 1860s.

Location

We do not know where in America it was taken.

Identification

Unfortunately like many early portraits available to HBC, it is unidentified. We have no idea who the child is. We believe the child came from an affluent family. Both the elegant dress and meticullosly rooled curls suggest that. The child looks to be about five years old.

Gender

We are not even sure about the child's gender. Here HBC readers have provided differing assessments. This image was offered in an e-Bay auction. The seller identified the child as a boy. Thinking that the CDV mught have a name on the back, HBC contacted the seller. He replied, "There is no name on the back--nothing. From several years of doing 1860s CDVs the attire for this young person, with the hair style I can tell you for sure he is a boy from a wealthy family." Now HBC does not dispute that the child came from a wealthy family. We are not at all sure, however, that the child is a boy. There are several factors which can be used to assess gender in this portrait.

Face

The child's face does look rather like a boy to HBC. Another viewer, however, might think differently. With young children like this, it is impossible to tell with any certaintly by using the face.

Dress

Certainly a child this age could have been outfitted in a dress and jacket like this. We do not see any thing about the dress, however, that would confirm that the child is a boy. The destintively styled boy dresses that appeared in the late 19th century, were not yet common in the mid-19th century when this portrait was taken. Thus a boy might wear the same styles as his sister making fashion cluses difficult to use concerning gender. The boy wears a matching jacket with his dress. The cut of the jacket is not unlike that worn by boys even into the 1880s. Boys jackets commonly buttoned just at the top. We notice an English family in the 1860s with top buttoning jackets. Boys Fauntlelroy suits for example had small cut away jackets. The jacket is worn will ballon sleeves. This style was popuklar for both boys and girls. Boys often wore them with tunics suits during the 1850s and 60s. A HBC reader asks, " Is the boy wearing both a tie around a collar which would suggest a boy and a tie to connect his jacket?" Usually these jackets had a button at the top or a tab connector. I think the bow is an actual collar bow, although admittedly placed rather askance.

Bow and sash

A HBC reader writes, "The one thing I thought indicated a boy was the collar bow, which appears to an indication that the child is a boy. I have noticed quite of few boys with short hair in dresses with this kind of bow and no girls." Also notice the waust sash.

Prop

Nor are we sure that the small book has gender connotations.

Ringlets

Also ringlets in the 1860s could have been worn by both boys and girls. We have less information on ringlets in the 1860s than later in the century. We know that some voys did have their hair done in ringlets in the 1860s, but so did some girls. We have very limited information on the conventions here. We have so far collected only limited information on the ringlet cirl fashion in the mid-19th century, especially gender connotation.

Center part

Here, however, there is one factor that suggests that the child may be a girl and that is the center part.

Reader Assesments

A German reader believes that this child is definitely a boy. She writes, "Well, I think it is the face and the plain dress. And somehow the child does not look girlish, but rathr boyish. OK, that's my personal feeling."

Reader Comment

One HBC reader commented on this portrait , "Poor boy!" suggesting that he was being mistreated because he wore a dress and had ringlet curls. Actuallly boys this age in the 19th century were not all that unhappy about either there petticoats or their curls. In fact many of them loved all the attention and love that was lavished on them by doting mothers. Of course this begin to change when they were a bit older. But the idea that they were being mistreated is a very modern concept. The children we feel sorry for at this time were the slave children or the working class children who had to work in mines and factories in often terrible and dangerous conditions. A French reader, "I agree with HBC. Actually this boy was lucky to have such an attentive mother. I'm sure he was glad of that and was happy tobe dressed with his nice fashionable dress and his beautiful ringlets."

Created: March 31, 2003
Last edited: April 3, 2003