I’ve been in the mood lately to take new looks at the unidentified people in some of the vintage photos which I’ve inherited. This, I have to say, is one of the most unusual looking photos that I have. It’s a tintype that has no casing.
I would love some help here. I know very young boys used to wear dressed, but this little guy looks a bit old to be in a dress. Plus, the boy next to him is in a top hat. My first (21st century) impression is that they were dressed in costume for Halloween, but that may not be so.
The boys’ cheeks are both lightly colorized with red that doesn’t show up very well in the scan. They look to be perhaps five to seven years old, but I have no idea when this picture was taken since tintypes were actually made for several decades.
Readers – I really, really would love suggestions.
1. What is your best estimate of when this tintype photo was taken?
2. Why are the children dressed as they are?
I wonder if the “costumes” represent the attire of two famous individuals, maybe…? Have you tried a google image search to see if there is a similar photo out there?
I’ve tried Tineye and other image sites, but nothing has come up. Other than a children’s play (was that even common back in this era?), I can’t imagine why they were dressed this way.
I’m curious why you think the one in the dress is a boy. I, too, inherited a book of unlabeled pictures. Drives me crazy not knowing who they are. None are dressed like these 2.
I think the child looks more like a boy than a girl, but with those outfits, who knows?
Maybe they were in some sort of play/performance!
Maybe, but given that the picture is a tintype, I didn’t think parents had that kind of photo taken that early. Photographs were special. It’s a puzzle, for sure.