Figure 1.--This English boy wears a fancy, decorated tunic. Notice the shotenerd sleeve treatment and blouced sleeves characteristic of the mid-19th century. The boy is identified on the back of the portrait, but the writing is virtully impossible to read. An English reader suggests perhaps Selwyn Arthur Slym--but that is only a guess. The studio was Britt and Sons in Barbstable.

Even less common than patterned tunics are decorated tunics. In fact until we found a very early photographic portait, we had no idea they existed. We think it was an Ambrotype, although the dealer suggested it was a Dageuerrotype. These early photograpic types were not as common in Britain and the rest of Europe as in Anerica and is a wecomed addition to our English archive. We have not found a lot of English Anbros, but we have found a few, mostly in the 1850s decade. While most tunics were plain, of course, mothers being mothers, there were some highly decorated tunic oufits. A portrit from the mid-19th century, probably the 1850s, shows a Barnstable boy in a white, highly decorated tunic outfit. This would be an tunic outfit for a special occassion, Note the lace collar which was tied on. The boy is identified, but the writing on the back of the portrait is difficult to read. An English reader suggests perhaps Selwyn Arthur Slym--but that is only a guess. Unlike American Dags and Ambros, it is not a cased portrait. You can see the wire attached by wax on the back so it could be hung. The boy's tunic has elborate embrodery. The shortened sleeve and blouse sleeve also help date it to mid-century. We have no idea about the color of the emnbroidery, but this could gave been a very colorful outfit. Clearly not a school garment.

Created: 11:01 PM 12/19/2021
Last updated: 11:01 PM 12/19/2021