ClassyArts Blog

Tintype Portrait of Two Sailors

This is a tintype portrait of two sailors in uniform. I think that style of uniform, with flap-front trousers and mortar-board type hats, was English, but those features may have been used in other countries as well. And being sailors, they could be in port almost anywhere in the world when the picture was taken. As with so many tintypes, there is almost no clue as to the photographer or location. The only possibility I see, is that someone might recognize the distinctive pillar and bench (or low wall?) the seated fellow is perched on, or the background, which is only visible at the edges because the photographer chose to hang a plain backdrop directly behind the subjects. If either of those appear in card-mounted photos with a photographer’s imprint, we might discover the location. The identities are even more elusive. An expert in uniforms might be able to tell what country they come from, and a rough time-span, but recognizing the sailors would require a descendant identifying them from other family photos. A very ‘long-shot’ — but it could happen.

Tintype Portrait of Two Boys and Girl

This is a nice, classically composed group portrait of thee children. The eldest, the only girl, wears separate blouse and skirt, with billowing sleeves gathered at the cuff, a wide belt with large buckle, and patterned dress, very typical for both young ladies and adult women in the mid to late 1860s. The older boy stands behind her, one hand on her shoulder, wearing a jacket buttoned at the top but opening and spreading below, though we can not see much of it because he is behind the other two. The younger boy has checked pants and checked shirt, and a light jacket, probably Zouave influenced (as is the older boy’s jacket), with a double row of piping along the edges. All three look directly into the the camera. Like so many tintypes, there is no identification of either the subjects or the photographer.

Christchurch Road in Bournemouth, Dorset, England early 1920s

This image shows downtown Bournemouth, a popular resort town in Dorset, England. From the automobile styles and ladies fashions, this appears to have been taken in the early 1920s. The view down Christchurch Street has many signs, but most are too far away to be legible. One shows F W Todman, but I can not read the small print to see what Todman’s business was. The flatbed truck to the right, with crates on the back, says ‘Potato Merchant’ along the side.

Decker Sisters aged 5 in Fredericksburg VA

This photo is inscribed: Eleanor Marshall Decker, Mary Gresham Decker, 5 yrs.

They look like fraternal twins, which accounts for only one age being noted — it is the same for both of them. The photographer is Davis in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Since this is appears to be an 1890s photo, we looked for them in the 1900 census, and found them listed about 20 or 30 miles west of Fredericksburg, in Taylor Township, Orange County, Virginia. Indeed, the census notes they were twins, seven years old on the census date for 1900, they were born in November of 1892. They are listed as Eleanor M and Mary G Decker, daughters of Walker J and Mary S Decker. Their grandmother, (Mrs. Decker’s mother) is in the household, Mary A Chelsy, so Mary S Decker was likely born Mary Chelsy.

In the 1920 census Eleanor was still living with her parents, though her twin is not shown, and was most likely married and living elsewhere. In 1920 their father is listed as William, rather than Walker. In 1900 he had been listed as a preacher, in 1920 the occupation is given as farmer.