Figure 1.-- We begun to see a lot of whicker furniture in the 1890s, useful in dating undating portraits. The 1890s whicjer furniture was natural country. We see a lot white whicker in the 1900s. This portrait was taken in 1896, but the white whicker was more common after the turn-of-the century. Notice the deamy, hazzy background. .

The studio sets include furniture and props as well as the backdrops. We will deal with each of these individually as well as provide a decade by decade chronology of these trends in these studio sets. Here we will do this in general beginning in the 1840s with Daguerreotypes rather than just for cabinet cards, although some studio set trends were influenced by the photographic format. By the end od of the 1860s, the cabinet crd hd becoe the prmary phoographic fomat in America. This continued througout therest of the 19th centuy and no the early-20th century. Sets in the 1840s and 50s, first for dags and then for Ambros were very similar, a subject sitting by a table with a patterned cloth fabric covering it. The background was often plain. Not all Dags and Ambros were done like, this but it was very common. Sets for CDVs when they appeared (1860s) at first looked rather like the Dags and Ambros. We see CDVs becoming rather like stages, often for some reason with a large drapery at one side. The cabinet cards appeared (mid-1860s). We begin to see much more elaborate sets, especially for cabinet cards (1870s). Classical imagery with Grecian columns was popular (1870s). Rustic settings seem popular (1880)s. We see grass, shrubbery, and fences -- split rails were popular (1880s). The portrait on the previous page was centered on a huge bolder meant to coney a outdoor country setting. At the end of the century we see settings with a kind of poetic setting, sometimes with a misty or out of focus backdrop (1890s). We also see house plants at this time. A good example is a portrait of an unidentified New York boy in 1896. We see a lot of wicker furniture for some reason in the late-1890 and eaarly-1900s. Much of the wicker furniture was natural color in the 1890s and white in the 1900s. The boy here is a good examole (figure 1).

Chronology

Set Types

Basic Sets

The studio sets include furniture and props as well as the backdrops. We will deal with each of these individually as well as provide a decade by decade chronology of these trends in these studio sets. Here we will do this in general beginning in the 1840s with Daguerreotypes rather than just for cabinet cards, although some studio set trends were influenced by the photographic format. Sets in the 1840s and 50s, first for dags and then for Ambros were very similar, a subject sitting by a table with a patterned cloth fabric covering it. The background was often plain. Not all Dags and Ambros were done like, this but it was very common. Sets for CDVs when they appeared (1860s) at first looked rather like the Dags and Ambros. Even in ,ore modern times we see basic studios. This was especially the case for tin-types.

Drapery

We see CDVs becoming rather like stages, often for some reason with a large drapery at one side. This was vey common with CDVs mnening primarily the 1860s. CDVs remaine popular in Europe after the 1860s, but in America the popularity of the CDV declined notably in the 1870s. They did not disappear, but cabinet cards bcame by far the dominant photigraphic format. The cabinet cards appeared (mid-1860s). We begin to see much more elaborate sets, especially for cabinet cards (1870s).

Elaborate Parlors

A vey ppular photograpic set was elaborate parlors. Succesful middle-clss families hadwell furmished and finished prlrs. Mothers gave great attention to this. For mot Victorin mothers, t was the most important room in the home. The childen in many cases had only limted acces to the parlor. It was where guest were received and entertained. It ws in some ways vomparabl to he modern living room, but the parlor was a much more formal locatin. The childen in many cases had only limted acces to the parlor, espeially when upsuperbsed. The importance of the Viuctorian parlor is reflected by the popularity as a backgrund setting in cabinet cards. Thiusstudos commonly hd an elaborate paerlor set as it was sych a ppulr choice. Few portrait were actially tken in family parlors. Photgraphy was largely cnducted in studiso. So studio sets had to do.

Classical Imgery

Classical imagery with Grecian columns was popular (1870s).

Rustic Serttings

Rustic settings seem popular (1880s). We see grass, shrubbery, rocks and fences in the foregrond. Split rails were especially popular. The background were a ange f bucolic cenes. The portrait on the previous page was centered on a huge bolder meant to coney a outdoor country setting. Here nostalgia was a major factor. Americans in the late-19th century when cabinet cards dominated were experiencing enormous , unpresedented success, emerging as the largest and most dynamic economy in the world. But most came from very humble beginnings. Most grew up on a farm with very basic live styles. At the beginning of the 19th century, om 95 percent of Americans lived in rural areas. By late century successful Americans were looking back at their origins nostalgically and split rail fences as rural setting were popular imagery for photographic portraits. Few of the children involved had any idea why they were photographed in these elaborate sets, although visits to grand parents may have given them some idea about what life was like for their parents. We commonly see these rustic sets (1870s-90s).

Poetic Settings

At the end of the century we see settings with a kind of poetic setting, sometimes with a misty or out of focus backdrop (1890s).

House Plants

We also see house plants at this time. A good example is a portrait of an unidentified New York boy in 1896. his overlaps with the elabotate parrlor ection.

Wicker Furniture

We see a lot of wicker furniture for some reason in the late-1890 and eaarly-1900s. Much of the wicker furniture was natural color in the 1890s and white in the 1900s. The boy here is a good examole (figure 1).

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Created: 6:05 AM 7/30/2021
Last updated: 9:53 AM 2/14/2025