Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait was taken in 1885. Notice the tassedled furniture. This is a style we note from about 1865-85, but are still working in the precise chronology. This type of furniture is very common in period studio settings.

Dating the images is a complicated undertaking. Some portaits are easy to date, others are much more difficult. It is very important in our historical fashion assessnmnents because so many cabinet cards are undated and we want to use them to help understand fadhion trends, including chronological trends. We begin with the basic time frame of cabinet cards. They were introduced in 1866 and continued to be produced into the 1900s. We also see them into the 1900s, but in smaller numbers. The family sometimes wrote the date and names on the back, but in most cases the portraits are not dated. The style of clothing and mount styles can all help date the images. Here women's fashions are the easiest to date, although we focus primarily on children clothes. The mount styles and colors are also very useful. Another useful indicator are the studio props. Here the props can help date all the different portrait tyoes. Furniture set up in the sitting area as particularly helpful. It is very useful in dating all the different photographic fornmats, not just cabinet cards. We note Dags and Ambros with fabric-covered tabel (1840s-50s). Many CDVs have tasseled furniture (1870s-80s). It was not as common in CDVs which were more common in the 1860s. And we do not see it in the piostcard back portraits that appear after the turn-of-the 20th century. Here we are still working on the precise chronology. Then we begin to see whicker furnitute (1890s-1900s). White whicker furniture became very popular (1900s). We notice basic white furniture (1900s). Art deco furniture becomes popular (1920s-30s). The great variety of bac drops can also be helpful indicators.

Time Frame

We begin with the basic time frame of cabinet cards. They were introduced in 1866 and continued to be produced into the 1900s. We also see them into the 1900s, but in smaller numbers and with changing mount styles. The family sometimes wrote the date and names on the back, but in most cases the portraits are not dated.

Fashions

The style of clothing can all help date the images. Here women's fashions are the easiest to date, although we focus primarily on children clothes. This is not the most useful indicvator for us becuase we are trying to date the fashions. But as we have some dated images, these can help date the undated one.

Mounts

The mounts are also very useful indicators. Both the mount styles and colors are also very useful.

Studio Props

Another useful indicator are the studio props. Here the props can help date all the different portrait types. So it is best just to talk about the props in general and not in connecttion with the just the insdfividual portrait types. There are different kinds of props. Furniture set up in the sitting area as particularly helpful. We note Dags and Ambros with fabric-covered tabel (1840s-50s). Many CDVs and cabinet cards show have tasseled furniture (1870s-80s). It was not as common in CDVs which were more common in the 1860s. And we do not see it in the postcard back portraits that appear after the turn-of-the 20th century. Here we are still working on the precise chronology. Then we begin ee whicker furnitute (1890s-1900s). White whicker furniture became very popular (1900s). We notice basic white furniture, inclusing white whickr. This we have noted as early as 1896, but it seems most common in the early-20th century (1900s). Art deco furniture becomes popular (1920s-30s). There were a range of landscaping props like trees, fences, pillars, and other such items. These seem most common in the 1870s and 80s and were very common items. We also notice drapery which seems especially popular in the 1860s. Erv see a lot of CDVs with drapery. There were also props given to the children to hold or play with like bicycles. Here we are not yet sure about the chrnological connotations.

Backdrops

The great variety of backdrops can also be helpful indicators.

Created: 3:52 AM 7/3/2012
Last updated: 3:52 AM 7/3/2012