Figure 1.--We are not entirely sure how to date this family portrait. We suspect the late 1870s, but the early 80s is possible. Notethe boys skirt done in tartan, but without any kilt styling. |
|
Families tended to be large in the 19th century. This was especially true in rural areas. We begin to see smaller families in the cities and this is an example. There may well be more children to come, but given the prents age, we suspect that this may not be a large family. The boy looks about 5 years old. Worcester was a manufacturing city. Father looks like he may a manager or a bookeeper in an industrial concern. The style of the mount suggests the 1870s to us. Unfortunately the cabient card portrait is undated. Hopefully readers will be able to assess the mother's dress. The boys plaid skilt outfit looks rather like the 1870s ton us, but the floppy bow was more common in the 1880s. So the portrait could easily have been taken in the early-80s. Kilt suits were popular for boys in the 1870s-90s, but this boy wears a blouse and skirt and not a kilt suit. We notice that kilts and kilt-like garments were commonly worn by younger boys. Note how mother has chosen a plaid material, but there is no kilt styling on the skirt. We note other boys wearing skirts, but kilt suits were more common, at least in formal portraits.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. 1870s family page]
[Return to the Main U.S. family page]
[Return to the American kilt garments]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Girls]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[ Boys' Clothing Home]