Help needed dating photo

[Diane Yanosik]

I am hoping to date this photo, trying to determine who it is a photo of.  After reading about wedding dresses being black pre-1920's, I'm guessing this is a wedding photo. I have been unable to find information on dating Swedish clothing styles.  I believe this to be my great-grandmother, Matilda Thunqvist, which would date the photo 1868.  The photo was taken in Oskarshamn, at Hilma Flodman studio. Any comments are appreciated.
Diane

[Bernhard Johanson]

1868 is not altogether wrong!
Hilma Flodman came to Oscarshamn in 1869 and died there in 1893. Tye of frame and printed logotype suggest that this copy was made in the early seventies.

[Ann-Mari Bäckman]

When I see the coiffure, I am thinking about 1875.
 
Ann-Mari

[Ann-Mari Bäckman]

This is a photo from 1878
 
lady

[Ann-Mari Bäckman]

Diane, this is a photo from 1868.
 
1868
 
Ann-Mari

[Monica E Nilsson]

Hello Diane!
 
J have found the marriage advertisment 1868  
 
Karl Eric Thunquist, seaman, b. 1847
Mathilda Sofia Danielsson, maid, b. 1850
 
Nr.15.  12? December 1868, in Oskarshamns Town Parish, Kalmar County, Sweden
 
Source: www.genline.se--100008.27.43300 SCB, Kalmar County, Oskarshamns Town Sweden (1868-1868)
 
Regards Monica

[Diane Yanosik]

Thank you everyone!  One of the reasons I suspect this is Matilda is a resemblance to photos I have of one of her daughters.  What of my guess that this is her wedding photo?  I cannot imagine another reason for the head piece/tiara and veil.  After seeing the 1868 photo, the neckline is much higher in the other photo.  Would someone dress for a funeral similar to my photo?  Karl Erik died at sea in 1899.  Thanks for any input.
Diane Yanosik

[Anna-Carin Betzén]

Like you say, it definitely looks like a wedding photo. Perhaps it could be a sister of Matilda, hence the family resemblence?

[Diane Yanosik]

That is a possibility.  She had 2 sisters Johanna Lovisa b. 1840 who was living with Matilda in 1890, married name Engström (she was a widow), and Theresa Karolina Sofia b. 1843.  Now to try find marriage records for these sisters.  Thank you again for the help.
Diane

[Stefan Åhman]

Johanna Lovisa married August Isaksson Engström 1876-03-07 in Oskarshamn. Did not find the other sister when trying the PLF CD-2.
 
In 1876 Johanna Lovisa was 36 years old, which does not seem unreasonable when looking at the photo.
Wonder if she was a widow already by then - could this possibly have something to do with the setting of the picture?  
 
Why is she holding a handkerchief in her left hand? Does this imply anything special - maybe, maybe not? Does anyone know?
 
Stefan

[Anna-Carin Betzén]

I've seen photos of women holding a hankerchief plus a hymnbook - at least in confirmation photos.  
 
According to Ingela Martenius in her article Rites of Passage, before wedding bouquets were used, brides would carry a hymnbook wrapped in a fine cloth.

[Diane Yanosik]

Thanks for all the information.  I had not been able to locate any records for her. Johanna's wedding date seems to fit the syle & coiffure better than Mathilda's.
 
 I know that in 1890 Johanna Lovisa was living with her sister Mathilda in Oskarshamn, listed as a widow. I'm not sure if she was married before she married August Engström.  
 
Can I ask - where did Johanna Lovisa marry?  I have her as being born in Döderhult.  I found the name Engström on the household examination where she was living with Mathilda.
 
Thank you again, everyone for your comments.  I never thought I'd learn so much from one small photo!
 
Diane

[Stefan Åhman]

Re Johanna Lovisa, born 1840-11-12 at Källan, Mörlunda (H)
 
Father
Danielsson, Lars Magnus (b 1817-03-01 at Tillingeberg, Mörlunda (H))
 
Mother
Jonsdotter, Kajsa Greta (b 1818-08-12 at Drageryd, Högsby (H))
 
 
Johanna Lovisa married August Isaksson Engström 1876-03-07 in Oskarshamn. Oskarshamn was broken out of the Döderhult parish in 1873; hence the confusion, I guess.
 
Johanna Lovisa had a son, Carl Emil b 1865-03-01. He died 1891-11-29 in Oskarshamn. Johanna Lovisa was not married at his birth.
She served some time in Stockholm; she returned to Oskarshamn from Adolf Fredrik parish in Stockholm 1873-11-12.
 
August Isaksson Engström had been married before; 1862-12-01 he married a widow, Stina Österman, born 1811, who died 1873-07-17 in Oskarshamn. August died in Oskarshamn 1884-06-18 - born 1830-09-23 at Granskata, Fagerhult (H)
 
Hope the above is reasonably correct.
 
Stefan

[Diane Yanosik]

Thanks for the information Stefan.  Looks like this photo is probably Johanna Lovisa.  I'm still searching for records for Theresa Karolina Sofia to rule her out.
 
Diane

[Stefan Åhman]

According to the death records, Theresa Carolina Sofia died of fever at the age of five at Döderhultsvik, Döderhult (H) 1848-05-05 and was buried there 1848-05-14. (GID 17.35.26700)

[Diane Yanosik]

Thank you again Stefan.  I have trouble reading many of the older records, and I miss many.  I think part of it is the language difference.  So it looks like this photo is very probably Johanna Louvisa.  
Many thnaks to everyone!
Diane