Mother and Son

This lovely photograph of a mother and her son with their very compliant pet tabby cat is from the Museum’s Tyrrell collection. While searching for historical photographs of people and their pets I found that the animals were often blurred because of the longer exposure times required in the early days of photography. Finding an image like this one is quite rare.

Part of this photograph’s appeal is its informality. The little boy is shown without his shoes, obviously taking a break from play. He is wearing a sailor suit, a form of dress based on adult uniforms that was worn by boys in the early 19th century and later popularised by the British royal family. At the boy’s feet is a version of the ‘Royal Tar’ hat that featured a wide, up-curving brim with a ribbon that was often woven with the name of a ship.

Due to mass production the sailor suit became widely available at low cost which contributed to its popularity. Although earlier sailor suits were made of white drill, they were later produced in more serviceable navy blue like the one shown in this photograph. Sailor suits with skirts were also made for girls.

For more about the history of the sailor suit, view here.

Photography, unattributed studio, Sydney, Australia, c. 1880-1923
No known copyright restrictions
Post by Kathy Hackett, Photo Librarian