Here's A Photo Of My G-Grandma...

Large photo -- 15.5' x 19.5"
Took out of the frame (plain black walnut so DH says) because there was wood backing.
What is that term again for photos that have been "enhanced" with white paint and what looks like charcoal? Crayon photo?
How old do you think? c. 1900 or earlier?

 

Very cool photo - do you know her dates? (birth, marriage, death)

 

Crayon portrait, crayon enlargement, solar enlargement are all terms that are used for these.

And, as elarnia asked... what are her dates? Her clothing that I can see looks pre-1900 to me... but sometimes these were made later from earlier photos.

 

Well, she's no oil painting!

 

Hardy har har.

She was born in the 1870s, I think and died early 1950s -- got the dates somewhere... Was married in the 1880s because my grandfather was born in 1890 and he had an older sister.

 

I'd say shes 1880's to 1890's, for sure pre 1900!

 

Thanks, Dennis. That means that it was probably taken here in my hometown as my grandfather was born here.

 

After talking with my mother, I have confused my g-grandmas. This is the Irish one who died a few years after giving birth to my grandmother and her twin brother in 1889. (According to my mother, she was perpetually pregnant and she thinks that she died in childbirth.) The locket seen in the photo is still in the family -- my mother has it and it contains a photo of my g-grandfather. So this is likely taken in the 1880s.

 

I was going to say that I thought the top part of the dress did not look 20th century... but wasn't sure and hadn't taken the time to look at my reference books.

 

Well, the story thickens, if not the plot. My mother said that she had the locket that my great-grandmother is wearing in the photo above. DH says it isn't gold, but I dunno -- there's a bit of verdigris on the hinge but the rest of the locket is untarnished and is gold in colour. Not marked, though. Bit over an inch long, I think. It's in my possession now and I remember my mother wearing it, but never saw what's inside -- a photo of my great-grandfather taken in the early 20th c -- he's wearing a Salvation Army cap. So, I have a very large photo of gr-grandma and a tiny one of gr-grandpa, LOL!

 

How cool this that!

 

Wonderful -- a great heirloom for you!

 

There might be a mark under the photo, but I wouldn't tamper with it. What does it matter if the metal is gold or not.

 

Wow, that is wonderful to have the photo and the locket!

 

Hi,
A lot of jewelry from that time period was made out of a metal called "Pinchback" which today is still shiny. I have several little tiny tin types
framed with what I thought was gold. You can always have a copy made of his wife's photo and have shrunk down to put in the other side.
greg

 

It is in great condition too. Very nice family treasure.

 

Greg, small correction... the name of the metal is actually spelled pinchbeck. As Wikipedia says, it's "a form of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinchbeck_(alloy)

 

Thanks for the comments! And it could be pinchbeck for all I know -- the material really doesn't matter as Bob said. I'm tickled that I have photos of my great-grandparents -- I wonder what my great-grandfather would think if he knew that his great-granddaughter would one day wear his photo. I'm assuming he gave the locket to my great-grandmother.

 

Hi Fig,
Thanks, my left pinkie does stupid things once in awhile.
greg