A Victorian gent and his most admirable sideburns...

Sideburns maketh the man.

Take a moment with me, if you will, to dreamily admire and perhaps even consider replicating, this fine set of 1840's sideburns.

You're looking at a truly splendid British daguerreotype example, of which there are far fewer examples compared to their transatlantic cousins, the reason for this being a complicated licencing issue and subsequent high costs. The owner, 'Photos of the Past' on Flickr, notes that the date the image was taken was recorded on the reverse: September 1, 1849.

Just another example of how marvellously the British did sideburns in the Victorian era.

19th century Gents and their Penny-Farthings...

It's a marvellous day for a daring cycling jaunt in the countryside and photographic studio. How's that father and his bonny little son penny-farthing cycling ensemble? Goodness gracious. 

Daguerreian Dandy feels compelled to put this question to long-suffering readers: What's the difference between a well dressed bicyclist and a poorly dressed tricyclist? Attire.

A bibliophile's delight: Madresfield Court, Worcestershire

Cigar smoke and antique pages. 

For the bibliomaniacs lurking among us, cast a dreamy gaze upon this scrumptious view of the library in Madresfield Court, Worcestershire. An ancient seat dating back to late Medieval days, the structure has of course received many facelifts over it's expansive history, with the main refurbishment taking place in the 1860's. For those fancy pants blue-blooded folk that simply MUST have everything and then some, this handsome, elderly Grade 1-listed structure offers inhabitants a moat, an Arts and Crafts decorated chapel and a fantasy garden one really wouldn't mind becoming lost in. Daguerreian Dandy must now beg to be excused for the time being-I hear a Wilkie Collins novel, a pair toasty slippers and a fine cigar hollering my name.... 

An American Portrait

Back in the 1950's, there was a popular challenge between young folk of the era to see how many could pack into a phone box in a sardine-like fashion. Jolly good fun, I'm sure. Well, back in the 1850's, a similar challenge emerged-'how many youngsters can we fit in this here daguerreotype portrait?' Personally, I feel there was room for a few more folks here. Nevertheless, this is, of course, a marvellous 1/4 plate daguerreotype of school class-Petersham school in Massachusetts, probably taken around the very early 1850's. Take out your monocle and zoom in on the kiddies and you'll notice for the most part it's a good example of the side parts for boys and middle parts for girls rule. Most of the older girls are wearing collared dresses, while the younger ladies wear off-the-shoulder frocks up the front (plus one young man in a frock and side part).

This impressive group image is courtesy of Skinner Auctions.

He's sexy and he knows it...

Well, SOMEONE needs a good spanking.

OH sir! How you do make my knees tremble and my heart feel weak. Will someone so kindly ring the bell for my maid Eliza to fetch the revival salts on the double. Tell her to make haste, for I am now certain the room is spinning and there are, I see clearly now, stars appearing before my eyes. An impertinent gaze, terrific sideburns and an authoritative, cocky manner toward the camera will do that, you know. Pout away, handsome chap. If I'm not mistaken, and if I should be I will hasten to rectify my claim, this fellow was taken by Charles Dodgson, quite an accomplished photographer, in Daguerreian Dandy's eyes.

19th century transportation-getting from A to B

Due to a draught on the subject of 19th century transportation options (okay, we admired a steam train a while back, perhaps, but I think that's really about it in the way of transport methods-unless we delve in Spring-heeled Jack's rather crafty and prudent methods involving a pair of nifty DIY shoes) we really should delve into some sensible choices to assist one in getting from A to B. Comfort and style varied substantially, but we'll first cast a glance at the phaeton (named so after a god of Greek mythology), a small carriage with limited seating options, born around the late 18th century. They remained in service for a good portion of the following century, and were a vehicle that a gent or lady could be in command of, rather than one having to acquire the services of a coachman. This one's quite a good looker with it's elderly leather top and original seat cushions, wouldn't you agree? I would assume it would be pulled by 1-2 horses, and was desirable due to it's lightweight nature and it's ability to be driven around town with ease.

Daguerrian Dandy will return after tending to his dark, luxuriant sideburns, though perhaps not quite so rapidly as old mate and English terror Spring-heeled Jack after a poor, helpless maiden in a graveyard after midnight.

A young fellow of the 19th century...

Tintype of a little 19th century gent, courtesy of Daguerreian Dandy.

Yes...a wee gent we have here. Marvel at that top curl and direct stare. 1/6 plate tintype, American. 

You really have to hand it to the Victorians...

Oooh, this looks rather handy.

Cordial apologies, first up, for the less-than-astounding quality of the image above. However, we must bare with what we have. And what exactly, then, DO we have? Daguerreian Dandy, sitting here in that spiffy brown checkered day suit we gazed upon not a moment ago, has not settled on a date for this charmer of an object. If I simply had to hazard a guess, if Dandy's stash of fresh tobacco and collection of naughty meerschaum pipes were on the line, I'd say perhaps 1850's, maybe 60's. Nevertheless, Dandy could be way out and it may in fact be a tribute to a bygone era. 

Enough babbling. What is it then, young dandies? Made of wood and whale ivory (no eyebrows raised back in them days) it is in fact a wax seal. I do wonder of it's origin too. A capital choice for the off-centre Victorian, yes. 

Gent's mid-century day ensembles...

It's time to get one's dandy on, I say. Image courtesy of Museum at FIT. 

Two absolutely spiffing day ensembles for dandies of the mid-century. Good heavens, aren't they a delight? Waltz on down the avenue in these babies and you'll do quite alright, I can assure you. The suit to our left is a wool number with a fetching checkered vest for the Victorian wishing to add a little flair and personality. To the right, looking as thought it's been lifted directly from 1970's era Mod Ken is a brown cotton and linen suit for the late 1840's gent.

An extraordinary daguerreotype..

A lady and her prayer. Daguerreotype, 1840's. Courtesy of Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs.

Victorian era leather merchant and tanners

Here we witness a leather merchant casting an eye over the goods, and tanners engaged in their daily business in Bermondsey, London, late 19th century.

The age of steam.

Daguerreian Dandy is quite fond of steam trains, and especially keen on images of trains in action, entering tunnels, picking up passengers etc. Freud would have a field day, eh?

Fry's Advert.

Don't blame the little squirt, really. Late Victorian era Fry's advert.

A daguerreian heart-breaker indeed. My, my.

1850's daguerreotype, courtesy of The Library of Congress. This here fellow is why revival salts were invented.

If you wanted to pursue Sir Hot Stuff here, you'd do well to commence your search in 1850's middle class America. To assist you even further, I'd recommend journeying to the New England area and seeing how you fair. If you find this divine young fellow before me, give him a good pinch on the bum for me, will you? 

Ah, those saucy Victorians...

I say! Keep these ones out of the Missus' sight!

These cheeky items seem like something one would expect to see during the 'Naughty Nineties' (that is, the 1890's...and don't forget, all about the place, particularly in England and America, liberated ladies were on the move in their bloomer suits and hooning around on bicycles like nobody's business...oh my). Aren't they quite hilarious? But these spicy little novelty pieces, probably once found in a locked drawer in the library, often the sanctuary of the gent/s of the home following dinner, do actually serve a practical purpose too.

It's quite clear that the shapely striped pins to the left form part of a saucy little gentleman's corkscrew. This piece is German-produced, probably 1890's or so, and the legs are made of celluloid. These can, of course, be purchased new today from novelty/bar gift stores almost anywhere, though they're often rather shoddily made.

What about the two lovely feminine pins to our right? These objects were quite useful to the Victorian gent who revelled in a good puff of an evening, in his smart smoking attire and most agreeable chair. These are carved bone pipe tampers, probably a bit earlier than the highly conspicuous striped pins. A 19th century gent would use these tools to push and pack the tobacco down into the bowl, as it often tended to expand and move around while one was smoking, creating pockets of air which can result in the pipe going out.

The corkscrew image is courtesy of corkscrewsonline. Top right courtesy of kahnfineantiques.