Figure 1.--This CDV shows a Dresden boy, probably during the late 1890s or early 1900s. The boys wears a blouse with a large lace and ruffled collar. We might not call it a Fauntleroy blouse because there is no front ruffle. Actually it may be a plain blouse with a pin-on fancy collar. Notice that while he has a white outfit, he wears black long stockings. Also notice his hat.

This CDV shows a Dresden boy, probably during the late 1890s or early 1900s. THe card was done in grey. The boys wears a blouse with a large lace and ruffled collar. We might not call it a Fauntleroy blouse because there is no front ruffle. Actually it may be a plain blouse with a pin-on fabcy collar. Notice that while he has a white outfit, he wears black long stockings. Also notice his hat.

The Boy

This CDV shows a Dresden boy, probably during the late 1890s or early 1900s. W havce no information about him. He looks to be about 10-years old. We are not sure what kind of family he was from. We believe that he ptobably game from a comfortable moddle-lass family, because of his hair and natty outit. this does not, however, look like a very fashionble studio.

Hair

The boy here has a full head of curly hair. It is longer than was common at the time. In fact many German boys had close-cropped hair at the time. There seem to have been social-class factors involved here. Cl;ose-cropped hair was nost common, but not exclisive, to working-class families. This is one reason we think this boy came from an affluent family.

The Portrait

The card was done in grey. It is a CDV portrait. CDVs were apparently pipular in Germany long after they had largely disappweared in America. Notice the very plane background. This suggests to us a rather make-shift studio. Perhaps a seasonal studio at a beach resort.

Clothes

The boys wears a blouse with a large lace and ruffled collar. We might not call it a Fauntleroy blouse because there is no front ruffle. Actually it may be a plain blouse with a pin-on fancy collar. Notice that while he has a white outfit, he wears black long stockings. Also notice his hat. The outfit looks like a seasonal outfit which might be worn at a beach resort.

Hat

Also notice his hat. It looks like a southeaster, but I think that is just how he is holding the brfim. The white outfit, especially the hat, looks like a seasonal outfit which might be worn at a beach resort.

Blouse

The boys wears a blouse with a large lace and ruffled collar. We might not call it a Fauntleroy blouse because there is no front ruffle. Actually it may be a plain blouse with a pin-on fancy collar. A reader comments, "It almost appears (I can't tell for sure) that the collar is detachable and the blouse is actually very plain." Here are reader may well be right. The collar is very plain in comparison to the rest of the garment. There are no front or sleeve-cuff ruffles. Actually the garment may be a shirt waist. It does not look to have a collar other than the pin-on lace collar It also looks like the garment has tails and is tucked in rathwr than a blouse with a button on draw string waist closure.

Pants

He wears knickers that look to have elastic leg closures. Mom was not very careful in preparing him fofr the portrait. A reader writes, "Notice that the knickers one is above the knee and the other appears to have fallen below the knee."

Stockings

Notice that while he has a white outfit, he wears black long stockings. A younger boy might have been dressed in white stockings, but the boy here wears black stockings in contrast to his white outfit. We see this a good deal, but more commonly with white summer sailor suits.

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Created: 3:06 PM 12/14/2006
Last updated: 3:06 PM 12/14/2006