Young Man with Bowler Hat on Studio Chair

Photograph

-

The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Young Man with Bowler Hat on Studio Chair

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0058

Description

Sepia-toned silver gelatin print mounted on dark charcoal cabinet card stock. Full-length studio portrait of a young adult male standing beside an ornate wicker chair. A bowler (derby) hat rests on the seat of the chair. Plain studio backdrop with minimal painted ornamentation.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Cabinet Card

Category

Edwardian, 1900's, man, Hats, Tie

Made/Created

Studio

Unknown

Date made

circa 1905 - circa 1915

Time Period

Edwardian

Notes

No Studio Imprint

Ethnography

Notes

He wears a three-piece suit (jacket, trousers, and visible vest). The vest suggests formality and respectability — even working-class men often owned one “good suit” for studio portraits. The bowler hat on the chair is important: Bowler hats were everyday urban wear for businessmen and skilled tradesmen. Placing the hat on the chair signals that he has “arrived” — hat removed indoors as etiquette required. The hat becomes a secondary identity marker rather than being worn. This detail implies awareness of propriety and presentation.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Feb 14, 2026

Notes

Moderate foxing Mount edge wear Surface toning Overall stable print with good tonal retention

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This early twentieth-century studio portrait depicts a young man in a tailored three-piece suit and narrow tie characteristic of the Edwardian era. His bowler hat, carefully placed on an ornate studio chair, reflects contemporary urban dress and the etiquette of removing one’s hat indoors. The simplified backdrop and relaxed tailoring mark a transition from Victorian formality to the more modern aesthetic of the 1910s.

Create Date

February 14, 2026