1860's kilt photo - opinions requested! Costume or own kilt?

[mcavoycem]

This is a photo of my great-great-grandfather John Cunningham. He came to the U.S. sometime before 1864, and died in December 1868 in Braidwood, Illinois. Just enough time to marry and father two 1/2 kids (his wife was pregnant when he was killed). This is the only known image of him. Wondering which is more likely: that he's wearing a costume, or that this was his own kilt. We don't know where he came from, but he married a Watt who had come to the US from New Monkland, Lanarkshire, where her dad and brothers were coal miners, and he was a coal miner, so maybe he came from the same area (Lanarkshire or Ayrshire). Any thoughts or observations would be very helpful. We don't know if this photo was taken in the U.S. (if so, most likely would be Philadelphia or Chicago) or in Scotland (if so, mostly likely Glasgow).

[Jock Scot]

I have no idea, but the back ground does look like a stage set of some sort, possibly leaning towards America. The other thing that catches my eye is the sporran, not only the item itself, but how its being worn. Neither is clear, but by the looks of it the sporran shown is far from standard, nor is the way it is being worn. I think on what I can see, your conclusions are a pretty fair estimation.

[Riverkilt]

What a cool picture to have. Have lots of similar pics taken on the "stage" the photographer had in his studio...and know the photographers had lots of props to offer. But I can't imagine a photographer in small town Illinois in the 1860s having a kilt that fit him on hand. IF the pic was taken in Illinois. More likely to have a kilt available if the pic was taken in Scotland. But the photographer would have to have a range of kilt sizes and lengths on hand for clients. Just seems that the logistical nightmare to the photographer would indicate that the kilt was your great great grandfather's. Maybe....

[Chas]

Has the picture been 'flopped' or is your grandfather playing 'wrong-handed' deliberately?

[English Bloke]

It looks like a 'borrowed' kilt worn on a photographers set. It's a poor fit as the pleats seem to edge around on the (wearers) right side and as Jock suggests, the sporran looks mocked up.

Very cool to have though. That's a very OLD picture and gives a special link to one of yours. Goes without saying, but do take care of it.

[TJ Kelley]

This backdrop looks similar to a photo of my GGG Grandmother. My Grandmother told me it was taken in the 1870's at the Illinois state fair in Springfield. She went into detail about wardrobe they had to choose from. My family were simple farmers, yet my GGG was dressed in a long socialite gown w/ elaborate feathered head piece. She looked like a movie star.

If I had to guess, I'd bet this "your photo" was a very similar situation.

[mcavoycem]

Has the picture been 'flopped' or is your grandfather playing 'wrong-handed' deliberately?

No idea - is there such a thing as playing violin left-handed? I was assuming the photo was reversed but have no way of knowing for sure.

[Downunder Kilt]

My word there are fiddlers and violinists playing molly dooker

[Aussie_Don]

Has the picture been 'flopped' or is your grandfather playing 'wrong-handed' deliberately?

I could be wrong, but given the time that the image
was made, it's likely to be a Daguerreotype -- and they
are effectively negative images.

see: Wikipedia-- Daguerreotype

My recollection is that a number of early photographic processes
resulted in reversed images.

-Don

[unixken]

Has the picture been 'flopped' or is your grandfather playing 'wrong-handed' deliberately?

Old photos from that era were often taken on emulsified glass plates, that could easily be viewed as flopped. Perhaps that is the case here?

Consider this quote, from a page describing early photography ( http://www.cycleback.com/1800s/earlyphotos.htm )

"As a negative shows lights as darks and darks as lights, a black backing was put behind the image to correct the contrast. The negative's mirror image could not be corrected, so all images including writing are in reverse."