Edwardian Actresses in Gorgeous Dresses No. 2

Miss Jessie Bateman, posted in 1906.

Lily Brayton, posted in 1910.

Miss Gertie Millar, posted in 1905.

Miss Gabrielle Ray, posted in 1908.

The first 'Edwardian Actresses...' post can be found here.

Home Sweet Home: Edwardians

The little boy is wearing quite an outfit!  The sign in the window says 'Howay Pianoforte Tuning Expert and Musical Instrument Repairer'.  Posted from Pulham in December 1908 to: Miss E.E. Holt, Woodlands, High St, Lowestoft, Suffolk.

The message reads:

'Dear E,

There is just a photo of our house with Pop standing at the gate.  How are you all fond love to Aunt and Uncle. Yours Jessie.'

The girls' dresses vary in their fanciness according to age - assuming that they are from the same family.  Note the female servant standing in the doorway.

The lady pictured is possibly 'E. Anderson' who has signed the reverse and has written: 

'To dear Clarrie with love and best wishes.

Each cloud has a silver lining,

Though we may not see its light;

The sun has not ceased its shining,

Though hidden awhile from our sight.'

The Perfect Figure: Corsets, Girdles and Rupture Belts

All adverts from Lancashire Life Magazine, Vol IV, Number 5, June, 1956.

This last product, in particular, looks extremely uncomfortable. 

Victorian Mourning - Newspaper Advert

From the Preston Chronicle, February 20th, 1869.

This advert has educated me in the names of various material types which I had never heard of: Paramatta; Henrietta; Burathea; Coburg.  It perfectly illustrates Victorian mourning practices, when the entire family would go into mourning for extensive periods of time.

Moustaches for Movember

I was unaware of the 'Movember' awareness drive until a couple of friends starting taking part a few years ago.  Here is a post featuring some vintage moustaches.  The elegant waxed and curled example sported by Monsieur Bruyneel in a previous post is also worth looking at here.

I estimate that these photographs date from c.1890-1920, any clarification welcome.

Here is a bristling, ebullient moustache warming the face of a clergyman:

An impressive, though somewhat drooping walrus-like effect here.

Trim, smart, controlled, contained.  Not a hair out of place.

Delicate and rather timorous, with a good effort to turn up the ends nicely and present a neat finish.  That collar looks heavily starched and not too comfortable.

A solid, job-done moustache; thick coverage for warmth and effect but kept trim so as not to get in the way of the mouth.  Intriguing flower in the lapel - something from the Morning Glory / Convolvulus family?

Ladies' Hairstyles No. 2: Give Us A Wave!

I believe these photos are all from the 1930s.

 From the studio of John Aston, Darlaston.

Nice aeroplane brooch seen above.

Photographer: Swains, Norwich.

Photographer: Hobbs, Great Yarmouth.

On reverse: 'Love to Hilda from Flo x', date stamped 23 Oct 1935.

On reverse: date stamped 11 Nov 1939.

Edwardian Actresses in Gorgeous Dresses No. 1

Gabrielle Ray, 1906.

Gertrude Glynn and Gaynor Rowlands, 1906.

Evie Greene, 1907.

Marie Studholme, c.1906.

Edna May, c.1906.

Men: In Groups and Three-Piece Suits

I estimate that these photographs date from c.1910 - 1945.

Note the distinctive pale checked waistcoat of the man standing centre-back and the stem of a clay pipe held by his friend on the right.

 I'm curious about this picture.  Does the difference in type of hat indicate different class / background?  The man in the flat cap doesn't have quite as good a suit as the other two and his hands show signs of hard work.

Have these men come for a holiday or day trip in one of the coaches seen in the background?

Two Bathers and Bathing Machine

Estimated date c.1910-1920.  On the reverse is written: "This is us, we had just finished bathing, still a bit wet.  G & P."

Perhaps G and P - who have not let being at the beach get in the way of looking glamorous - were posing in front of the bathing machine they had just used for changing. 

Fur and Feather

She has certainly succeeded in showing off her new(?) hat and muff.  Postcard posted in 1910 from Leek in Staffordshire, sent to Mrs Frost, 44 Leek Road, Milton, Staffs.
The message reads:

"Dear Sister
Me and Annie will come on Sunday if the wether (sic) is anything like hoping you are well from Bell"

Ladies' Hairstyles No.1: Updos and Buns

I estimate that these images show late Edwardian and early-mid Georgian ladies, so they are dated c.1910-1920.

The above is the front of a postcard sent during World War One, on April 4, 1916 to: Miss Brown, 47 Camden Park Road, Camden Square.  The text reads:
Dear Mary,
Just a word hoping that your arm is getting much better and also that you are better in yourself.  I had quite made up my mind to come to-night and see you as I promised, but I have not felt very well myself these two days, and yesterday I heard that my boy is in hospital, (wounded in the leg), so I know you will understand.  Hope to see you soon, and trust your brother is improving.  Kindest regards, yours sincerely Kate.

 

In the photo above the lady wears an attractive cameo brooch.  The cosmetic changes made prior to the photo being fully developed are visible, especially underneath the eyes, around the mouth and across the forehead.

The above is a postcard sent in 1912.  I don't know if all that luxuriant hair is all the model's own or if she is wearing a separate piece.

Hats

A photograph sent as a postcard in 1908. Posted to: Miss Hamilton, c/o Knox & Stewart, Drapers, High Street, East Linton, Prestonkirk.  The photograph was produced by Huber, 120 Princes St, Edinburgh and Aberdour.

The text reads:
Dear M.
Got home safe M met me at the Station and the rain came down in buckets, we lost Miss Smith at the station in the crowd.  Say goodbye to Miss Charpers for me please.  Sorry I didn't see her.  Love to all three, Lil.  How do you like the happy family?

I can see at least two hatpins securing the hat worn by the lady on the right.

Two Ladies, Seated.

I'm intrigued by the painted tents backdrop in this photograph, it's not one I have seen before in studio portraits.

There are so many things I love about this photograph: the lady's complex facial expression; her very proper posture; the wallpaper pattern and the design of the chair which looks like it's being held together with string, but is perhaps sporting intentional raffia-style decoration.  In my head I have christened her 'Miss Marple'.