Figure 1.--Here we see an American boy dressed in plaid. It is difficult to tell, however, if he is wearing a plaid dress or a kilt suit. The skirt has kilt styling so it may well be ailt suit. Note he is wearing what may be either pantalettes or knee pants. We are unsure how to describe them, nut they seem to be done in the same mterial as te dress/kilt suit. The boy is identified on the back as "Willie Beacon, Age 6 Yrs". His proper name was probably William Beacon.

Here we see an American boy dressed in plaid. It is difficult to tell, however, if he is wearing a plaid dress or a kilt suit. The skirt has kilt styling so it may well be a kilt suit or perhaps a kilt suit dress. Note he is wearing what may be either pantalettes or knee pants. We are unsure how to describe them, but they seem to be done in the same material as the dress/kilt suit. The boy is identified on the back as "Willie Beacon, Age 6 Yrs". His proper name was probably William Beacon. The studio is not identified. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1880s or early-90s. So an estimated dated of about 1890 seems reasonable. We note a small ruffeled collar, however, which seems more common earlier. It might be better described ss a ruff. Collars by 1890 tended to be much larger. The cabinet card is serrated. The backdrop is unusual, unlike other senic backdrops we have seen. I'm not sure if this was a homemade backdrop or a modernistic style.

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Created: 12:42 AM 4/29/2010
Last edited: 12:42 AM 4/29/2010