Help with year please

[quiffdo]

Hello all

Can somebody please help me date this photo?

Thanks in advance
Danny

[don.t]

I am oft out at the moment taking the hoofed one to school and will have a better look at this when I get back, but is there any indication who the photographer was Danny as that may help in the dating. For a starter I would suggest a quick date of somewhere between 1885 and 1893 and that the woman does appear to be in full mourning at first glance, like I say I will have a better look on my return.

don

[Rachel Scand]

Enlarged a bit

[don.t]

Danny, I have had a good look at the image and will stay with my suggested date line of 1885 to 1893. Going by the woman's hair style this would fit in with the date period as would the wearing of the mantle across her upper body, she does appear to be in full mouring with the skirt, bodice, mantle, hat, gloves and brolly all being black with no break in the colour save for the mantle chain and fastener which would indicate the first twelve month of mourning. The male is even harder to date (as is often the case) as many men tend to hang on to clothing that they are at ease with and like so he could be either fully up to date in the fashion trend (if he was like that) or he could, as is often the case, a good year or so behind the latest fashion of the day. The wearing of the Bowler, his clean shaven appearce other than his full moustache would also fit, as would the wearing of a winged collar to his shirt, under which his neck tie is formed into a four in hand style with a broad knot.

don

[Rachel Scand]

[quiffdo]

Thankyou for the help D.ont and Rachel

The gentleman in question was born in 1873 and if he didnt have the tache I would say he looked about 20ish so the date looks to be spot on.

Danny

[Just Barbara]

Danny, can you tell me about the lady in the picture please?

[quiffdo]

Hiya Barbara

The lady was named Julia Parsons and was the man's wife.

Danny

[Just Barbara]

Danny do you know when Julia died please?........

[Rachel Scand]

Danny do you know when Julia died please?........

and do you have any other pics of her ? ;)

[quiffdo]

Julia died in 1934 and as of yet I dont have another picture of her but there is one on Ancestry.

Do you perhaps think you may have come across her before?

Danny

[Just Barbara]

Her eyes don't seem to have any pupils in the photograph and I did wonder if the photo was a memento mori, but I would love to see the other photo if possible...

[quiffdo]

Just out of curiosity, what does that mean? I know momento mori has something to do with death but what does it mean in a photograph?

Danny

[Just Barbara]

Danny, in the 19th century a popular method of commemorating the dead was to have their photo taken after they were deceased. Mostly these were children, but adults were sometimes dressed and posed..........

[quiffdo]

I would have to say that she looks to be abit young in that photo as she was 57 when she died.
Although her eyes do look quite blank.

Danny

[Just Barbara]

No if she lived till 1934 it's not post mortem, ..........

[quiffdo]

If you go on ancestry and search for Julia Parsons born 1877 in walsall and died 1934 in Birmingham you will come up with a few tree's with her in and on some of them they have photos.

I would do it but I dont get my Ancestry back untill friday.

Danny

[Just Barbara]

Sadly I haven't got Ancestry any more, it got too expensive....

[WendyPusey]

There is one public tree and one Private tree on Ancestry. The public one has the same photo as yours.

[quiffdo]

Ahhh I thought there were more of her. Once I get Ancestry back Im going to see If I can spot more pictures of my Pote family.

Danny