Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows two unidentifies children presumably siblings. TThey look to be 4-7nyears old. The girl has a dress with a wide waist band and a huge lace collar and what looks like a flower or off-set bow. The boy wears a knee pants suit. There is an unusual circle design print on the Eton collar. The portrait is undated, but the CDV format and clothing suggest that it was probably taken in the early-1880s. The chair looks to be upholtered in velvet. The photographer is Bennett & Knight of 23 Washington Square in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Most Eton collars were a bright white and done without any paterns. There may have been colors, but we have not yet found examples. Discerning colors is a problem, but we can make out the patterns much easier. There do not seem to have been some Eton collars done with patterns, but we have noted some. This was a small percentage, but given our substantial American archive, we have found several such images. The most common pattern seems to have been polkadots. We do notice other patterns such as circles, but they are often not easy to make out. There are also rectangles. There my have been other figures and shapes as well. This seems to have been an especially American style. We have noticed far fewer European examples. Of course our American archive is larger and provides a better sample than our European archives. Eton collars were worn over a long time. The patterned Eton collars seem most common during the 1880s-1890s. At least this is when we have found most of our examoles. We think they may have been more common on the Eton collars that girls wore, but we are just beginning to explore this topic. We do not know what colors were used for the polkadots or other pattrns. The patterns were done in various sizes. Some are quite large and noticeanle like the collar that the boy here is wearing (figure 1). Others are much smaller and much less noticeable. Nor do we know yet if there were any age conventions. This is a difficult topic to assess because we have found relatively few examples. We believe that this is a good indication as to prevalence. The examples we have found are mostly worn with floppy bows which makes it hard to see if the collars have pointed tips like a classic Eton collars or rounded tops more like a Peter Pan collar.

Collar Color

Most Eton collars were a bright white and done without any patterns. There may have been colors, but we have not yet found examples.

Patterns

Discerning colors is a problem, in black and white pohotograohy, but we can make out the patterns much easier--at least to see that there are patterns. The most common pattern seems to have been polkadots. They are easy to make out. Some look like poladits, but they arebnor riounded. Other patterns are more diffiucult to identify. The portrait here is a good example (figure 1). We can discern a semi circle, but not much else. To see what the patterns are we need close-ups so we can make out the details. We do notice other patterns such as circles, but they are often not easy to see much more. There are also rectangles. We think that there were geometric figures and shapes as well. but we are just beginning our assessment.

Prevalence

There do not seem to have been some Eton collars done with patterns, but we have noted some. This was a small percentage, but given our subtantial American archive, we have found several such images. This is a difficult topic to assess because we have found relatively few examples. we believe that this is a good indication as to prevalence.

American Style

The patterrned Eton collars seems to have been an especially American style. We have noticed far fewer European examples. Of course our American archive is larger and provides a better sample than our European archives.

Chronology

Eton collars were worn over a long time. The patterned Eton collars seem most common during the 1880s-1890s. At least this is when we have found most of our examoles.

Gender

We think they may have been more common on the Eton collars that girls wore, but we are just beginning to explore this topic. Far fewer girls wore Eton collars than boiys, this thisniscdifficult bto assess.

Pattern Colors

We do not know what colors were used for the polkadots and other pattrns.

Pattern Sizes

The patterns were done in various sizes. Some are quite large and noticeanle like the collar that the boy here is wearing (figure 1). Others are much smaller and much less noticeable.

Age Conventions

Nor do we know yet if there were any age conventions.

Collar Types

The collars with this patterns are all detachable collars. The examples we have found are mostly worn with floppy bows which makes it hard to see if the collars have pointed tips like a classic Eton collars or rounded tops more like a Peter Pan collar. We can see thatthe boy herevis waring a pointed tip Eton cllar, but yhis is because he has a rather small bow. Most of the bows worn with therse collars were much larger and what can be seen the tips.

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Created: 2:43 AM 4/16/2010
Last updated: 8:33 PM 1/5/2022