Figure 1.--All we know about this American girl is that her mame was Ethel and she is 5 years old. The cabinet card mount and the white whicker furniture suggest the portrait was taken in the 1900s. Note the twin hairbows. |
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Generally we see girls with hairbows wearing one single bow, variously placed. These bows varied widely in size over time, even the single bows. Some were huge ans others were small and every size in between. Single bows are the primary convention we see in both the 19th and 20th centuries. The only alternative of any importance was twin bows, almost always placed on opposite sides of the head. When the twins bows were used they were almost alwaus matching bows in both size and color. amd they were mostly small or at least modertely sized bows. We have not noted the large bows being used. But so many girls are involved and fashion is sch a variable ohenomenon, we ae not going o say t never occurred. We note multiple bows on elaborate hair styles, but this was so rare tthat in reaches unimprtance. Here we are relying on the very ample photographic record to make our assessments.
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