The boy is indeed a boy: that central topknot style is also found on men of the 40s and 50s, and I've seen lots and lots of small boys with the topknot and side curls well into middle childhood (5-7 years old). This little fellow is wearing a bodice I wouldn't consider atypical; it's a great summer style for little boys in the 40s/50s, though it's often worn with plain linen trousers (long or short), rather than patterned trousers, or over a skirt/petticoats for a non-toilet-trained little fellow. Nothing about the image strikes me as particularly stagey or costumey, so I'm betting the tambourine is a photographer's prop/amusement, rather than a specific commentary on the possible livelihood of the child.
(Side comment on hair parts: while a center part for girls is very, very common, it's still not absolute. I've seen a hefty few handsful of images of girls with the double part (V), no part at all (smoothed straight back), and even the occasional side part (usually on an older girl). I've not seen *any* documented girl with the topknot style, though--that's a strictly man/boy style from birth.) Regards, Elizabeth Clark http://www.elizabethstewartclark.com Historic Clothing Tech Support at http://www.thesewingacademy.org _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
