Figure 1.-- This cabinet card portrait shows an unidentified American boy who looks to be about 14 years old. She wears a white dress with long ringlet curls. The portrait is undated. There was an unusual mount. We suspect it was taken about 1900-05. The studio was Barrett of Somerville, Massachusetts.

The popularity of ringlets has also varied significantly among countries. Are major source here is the photographic record. Paintings are also useful, but are varied limited in numbers compated p photigraphs. They also strongly introduce an economic bias because only the well-to-do could aford a painted portrait. We see ringlet curls from the very beginnkng of photography (1840s), although we know from paintings, girls had their hair done in ringlets before this. Much of the photographic evidence we have collected is American. This is because that the photographic industry took off in America like no other country. The extrodinary economic success of the United States resulted in a population with higher incomes and standard of living than Europe. Thus many Americans had the income to purchase portraits. Photographs were a small fraction of the cost of a painted portrait, but still there was a cost. Another factor was that ringlet curls are a labor intensive, high maintenance hair style. It was a style that families in comfortable conditions could afford, but more difficult for working-class families. This also meant that it would be more common in America, because a greater proportion of families lived in comfortable conditions, including many working-class families. We also see ringlet curls in Europe, but to a lesser extent. This is partly because the photography record is more limited and because there were fewer families that could afford the time and effort. Our ininitial assessment is that ringlets were most common in England, but we see some in other contries as well such as France and Germany. This is a subject thst we are just beginning to assess.

Created: 12:18 PM 2/16/2019
Last updated: 12:18 PM 2/16/2019