Figure 1.--This studio portrait looks to be a CDV, but there is no studio information. We assume he is American. The unidenified boy look to be about 6 years old. The portrait is not dated, but the stripped stockings suggest the 1870s. The stock-style bow also suggests the 70s. The boy wears a plain, belted tunic. The buttoning suggests a Western-styled shirt. The skirt of the tunic extends below the knees. Note the boater-style hat with streamers. Also notice what looks like aubtantial leather belt.

We see some tunics done in Western shirt styles or at leas partial Western styles. Many Union Civil War calvalry troopers were issued shield or bib-front shirts. This provided for extra warmth and was a handy place to store letters and other items. It bcame a popular Western style, alhough we do not see boys wearing theseshirtys in the photographic record. While we do not see shield-front tunics, we do, however, see some that seem to have fold over button front tops giving the Western look. This is somewhat related to diagonal designs, although the Western style seems more perpindicular than diagonal. We are not exactly sure what to call this style. We mostly see it in the 1870s.

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Created: 10:24 PM 3/16/2026
Last edited: 10:25 PM 3/16/2026