Vintage Children’s Photography

In “Mad About Plaid”, I asked the question: What was the deal with standing toddlers on chairs by themselves for photos in Victorian and Edwardian times? I never did find the answer, but I found plenty of photos to illustrate what I meant.

These kids from the Swedish Roots website are adorable, but more than a few look a bit puzzled as to why they are standing by themselves on a chair. After all, if they were to try this at home, they would be met with all kinds of admonitions: “Get down from there! You’re going to get hurt!”, and whatever else cautious Swedish mothers might call out from across the room.

Granted, a lot of the chairs used in the photography studios were equipped with at least some semblance of protective railing, but I don’t think it would have been enough for me.

Maybe if you dressed your child in puffy enough clothes, you’d be less anxious about them falling off the chair. Notice the shoes, about which you can read more in “These Boots…”

I’ve heard of people who put their kids up on a pedestal, but I’ve always thought it was a figure of speech!

I think I would have done this, had I lived in that day.

Or at the very least, this.

Is it just me, of do they have a safety belt on this one? Might not be a bad idea, but I would probably have wanted it to match the outfit a little better.

Just don’t anybody move!

When only one child will fit on the chair. You’ve got to love the baby’s expression on the right! Also notice the plaid leggings and button up shoes on the child with the violin.

Another expression to love!

I named these “Sad little boy on chair” and “Other little boy on chair”. Notice they are dressed alike. Unless it’s the same child in two different poses, but the one on the right looks older to me. I think his jacket has one more button as well.

This photo was labeled “John Waller”. I like his little knit outfit. Have you noticed how many of the photographer’s chairs had fringes and those big tassels on them? I can think of at least one cat, who shall remain nameless, that would enjoy having furniture like that!

These could probably fit better in the category for “Smiles and Expressions”, but since they did take one shot of the baby on the chair, I had to include them all here. The baby’s expressions and wild, curly hair are too much! The dad looks pretty serious, but in the last one, the mom looks like she’s trying to stifle a smile. Or a laugh. I can’t say that I’d blame her.