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Thursday 8 March 2012

Hair - Sepia Saturday

For someone who's follicularly challenged (on my head at least) I was dismayed to see the beard on display in Alan's photo.






But not to be outdone I found a Mr Aitkins on a CDV on a local market stall.

W Hayln (?) H Aitkins - CDV
So far I haven't found anymore details about this bearded man. The reverse of the card just carries the photographer's details.



My second beard is much neater, but again the man remains a mystery although the photographer Francis Bacon operated at 105 Northumberland Street in Newcastle.

Unknown portrait - Cabinet card
You might accuse me of being biased if I did not include a lady in this post - but not a bearded one.

Astronaut Marsha Irwins experiencing weightlessness
(NASA photo - 2001)

As for me it's a case of hair today, gone tomorrow, so you might like to read what I wrote in 2009. Hair-Today-Gone-Tomorrow

Of course you may also check out other hairy contributions at Sepia Saturday 116

26 comments:

Marc Latham said...

I'm holding on to some of mine...although what's left is turning grey!

Postcardy said...

I think short neatly trimmed beards are cute, but the long ones are disgusting. I bet they didn't even wash them much back when they were in fashion.

Little Nell said...

I did enjoy your writing in the link. Very funny and witty. As for the pictures these are wonderful hairy examples. The astronaut is clearly having a hair-raising time; makes me want to shout , “Wheeeeeeee!” What fun it looks.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Bob,

I like how the guy in the first one practiced a "blunt cut" on the bottom of his beard.

When I saw the lady, I couldn't worry that all of that hair was going to be tangled in some of the equipment behind her!

Thanks, now I'm going to read your other article.

Happy SS,

Kathy M.

21 Wits said...

Bob you did an outstanding job here on beards and wild and crazy hair...I just seriously can't believe really this is our theme this week? I haven't seen it yet, will check it out...but I don't think I'll be following the theme...at this beard and point of time! I know it's probably a girl thing right!!! Excellent post for you though......very funny stuff indeed!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I love these old cards..kinda sad that we will never figure out who they are. Marsha looks like she was having a super time!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bob .. how does she wash it in Outer Space? No wonder they're looking for a planet with water!

Cheers Hilary

Wendy said...

With a beard like Mr. Atkins', he doesn't need a shirt.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic finds. I always wonder about the "grizzly" beards. Who told them they looked good? :-)

Joy said...

I wonder what beards would be like in outer space. The first is beautifully wavy, nice he has at least a name.

North County Film Club said...

I can't believe she wouldn't have cut her long hair before going into space. Must have been a real nuisance. But it sure makes a great photo.
Nancy

Kristin said...

Although your first guy has a similar beard to the theme guy, he looks so much pleasanter. I love the hair floating around.

Anonymous said...

The long scraggly beard was so unattractive on the first gentleman. I wonder if he received complaints from his wife? The second guy looked so much better with his beard trimmed. Enjoyed your 2009 post - it was witty and made me LOL!

Mike Brubaker said...

Great photos. Mr. Aitken has the look of a divine, i.e. a theologian or scholar. I think beards in particular were clues as to a man's profession in the 1800s and for example a sailor would never sport army style whiskers and vice versa. The long biblical shape also reminds me of Rasputin's beard too.

Unknown said...

Mr Aitkins has what I call a real beard! He looks like a rock star ....

Abby Normal said...

Wonderful picture of the astronaut!

Wibbo said...

There could be something nesting in Mr Aitken's beard - it looks more like a hedge than a beard ;o)

dakotaboo said...

Wow! I have been well "out bearded" by your post.

Unknown said...

That fellow in the first photo is young since his beard is not white so maybe it is a religious thing. I just recently read about Hescetic(?)spelling, Jews who wear their beards that long. However I don't think they allowed photos. Well there have been many style over the years for sure. Great photos.
QMM

Teresa Wilson Rogers said...

Those loooong beards were so popular back in the mid-century 1800's. I wonder if it was some kind of status symbol or just laziness. Since they didn't have the modern conveniences we do, I also wondered how they kept them clean or if they even did - ewwww.

Anonymous said...

The first beard is scary, the second one is more subdued, but I LOVE Marsha's hair :-)

Bruno Laliberté said...

I much like the 2nd photograph.
:)~
HUGZ

Tattered and Lost said...

That second fellow looks like he should have been a kindhearted doctor.

Linda@VS said...

The second man looks very handsome in his neatly trimmed beard. The first man, though neatly dressed, is sporting a beard that must have been hard to keep clean. I wouldn't have wanted to run my fingers through it.

Jenny Woolf said...

When I look at beards like the first one I always imagine having to wash thme. I really am glad that this fashion isn't current right now, although I suppose I'd have got used to it... :)

tony said...

i Always have very mixed feelings when I see such mighty beards! I have never grown one myself .I never had the patience to go beyond the itchy&scratchy stage!