Figure 1.--Rhis portrait is undated. The narrow-ribbon bow was declining in popularity ib the late 19th century. The whicker furnitire, however, strongly suggests the late-1890s or early 1900s. |
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Most bows during the late 19th century were made of quite wide lengths of ribbon which tied into wide floppy bows. There are countless of these images in the phjotographic record. Before these wide bows became popular in the 1880s, another bow style was the narrow ribbon bow, cpmmonly worn with a relatively small collar. We are not sure what these bows were called at the time. We will use the term ribbon bows until we find what the period term was. We do not yet have a detailed chronology. As far as we can tell, these ribbon bows appeared in the 1860s. These were the first popular bow neckwear since the crevatte in the early 19th century. This style of bow was common in the 1860s and was worn by both boys and men. We do not see women and girls wearing these bow, but our archive is still v+ery limited. They were done in many different colors. We do not know what specific colors were popular. We also notice varigated colored ribbon used. We notice these bows into the early 1880s. The slender ribbon bow as a child's style declined in the 1880s as mothers opted for increasingly large bows. We do, however, occassionally see them even later. It is today largely seen as a western style an often worn by American opting for a western or cowboy look. We think it was essentially an American styles, although we are not yet sure abot this. HBC has found it difficult to fully assess this style. Unfortunately many available images are undated.
Most bows during the late 19th century were made of quite wide lengths of ribbon which tied into wide floppy bows. There are countless of these images in the phjotographic record. Before these wide bows became popular in the 1880s, another bow we note was the narrow ribbon bow. It was a much less flamboyant style. It was commonly worn with a relatively small collar. Ribbon bows were the first popular bow neckwear since the crevatte in the early 19th century. These ribbon bows were not nearly as common as floppy bows, but we do see a number of boys wearing them.
We are not sure what these bows were called at the time. We will use the term ribbon bows until we find what the period term was.
We do not yet have a detailed chronology of narrow ribbon ties. As far as we can tell, these ribbon bows appeared in the 1860s. We have not yet found examples from the 1850s. This style of bow was common in the 1860s. We note a numbrr of examples. Our archive is still very limited. We notice these bows into the early 1880s. The slender ribbon bow as a child's style declined in the 1880s as mothers opted for increasingly large bows. We see many more floppy bows in the 1880s, especially in the second half of the decade. Here the Little Lord Fauntleroy craze was a major factor. With the explosion in collsar styles, many American mothers apparently decided that narrow ribbon bows did not look right. We do, however, occassionally see them even later. HBC has found it difficult to fully assess this style. Unfortunately many available images are undated making it difficult to assess the time line.
These ribbon bows were worn by both boys and men. In contrast to floppy bows, they do not seem to have been a distinctly juvenile style.
We do not see women and girls wearing these bow. This needs, however, to be confirmed.
The ribbon for these bows were done in many different colors. We do not know what specific colors were popular. The black-and-white photography of the era offers few clues as to color. We notice bnoth plain colors and and varigated colored ribbon used.
It is today largely seen as a western style an often worn by American opting for a western or cowboy look. This does not seem to have been the case when these bows were popular. We see boys from bif eastern cities wearing these ribbon bows.
We think it was essentially an American styles, although we are not yet sure abot this.
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