Oxen team plowing image - EBay

[markj]

Excellent image.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sixth-Plate-Ambrotype-Farmer-Driving-Oxen-Team-and-Plow_W0QQitemZ230212777409QQihZ013QQcategoryZ408QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Greg Barnett]

Mark
Nice photo. Reminds me of the team at Outpost III.
It amazed me to see them work. It was good to see.

[Annette Bethke]

Why is he wearing a vest? And a nice one too?

[Hank Trent]

Why is he wearing a vest? And a nice one too?

As I recall, most of the farmers in Currier & Ives prints and William Sydney Mount paintings are wearing vests also, while working. Guess it was just the thing to do.

For example: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HAD/5454~American-Farm-Scenes-Posters.jpg

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Parault]

As I recall, most of the farmers in Currier & Ives prints and William Sydney Mount paintings are wearing vests also, while working. Guess it was just the thing to do.

For example: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HAD/5454~American-Farm-Scenes-Posters.jpg

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Correct me if I am wrong,however wasn't the idea of the vest to cover the suspenders? Was it considered poor breeding to show your suspenders? Would you liken it to todays times,in instances where people go shirtless to do hard manual labor,compared to those who wear their shirts while doing manual labor? I have heard that suspenders was considered as part of the undergarments,or is that just one more of those reenactorisms that "everybody says that"?

I have actually had the opportunity one time to experience the scenery from behind the mule and plow not to long ago. I know of one considerable older gentleman that lives not far from here,who does the mule thing on a very small patch located on the side of his house. I stopped and asked him if I could give it a try. I told him of me being a reenactor and how I wanted to give it a try. He just looked at me like I was an alien. I listened with great intrest. I didn't do to bad considering it was my first time. I can assure you,as long as there is a Farmer's Market,Wal-Mart,Brookshires or my Father-in-law's garden, I don't anticipate doing it again.

[Gery Barker]

In looking at the image, I think those are either Durhams or Shorthorns, which were extremely common in the 1860s. They are essentially the same breed as the four at Outpost III. As they get older the horns do not get much longer, but get more massive. The four in Tennessee were four year olds, these would be eight or older.
The only for sure image of a Confederate wagoner with his team and wagon that I have found shows a man in his shirt sleeves. Have any of you all found anything else?
Gery Barker, Wagoner

[mobluegraysoldier]

If you are interested in learning to work with draft animals, as well as other period crafts/arts, google Tillers International. They offer courses in a variety of period skills, including training oxen, making yokes, wheelwrighting, and blacksmithing. They hold an annual "Oxen Gathering" for people working with oxen. They are located in Minnesota (?) and would be well worth visiting.

As far as the question about the reason why the man working the team is wearing a vest, well, many curators have pointed out that most daguerrotypes and ambrotypes are "bragging" pictures. If you will recall, you have probably seen several photographs of the pioneer settler family sitting out in front of thier "soddy" or cabin with most of thier worldly possessions gathered around them. In the instances of "profession" photographs the craftsman usually has on his best clothes and is presenting his best work. Without detailed investigation as to the background of the photo, it could be assumed that the team is a prize winning one, or the farmer is known for his expertise and skill.
Kevin Baker; aka, mobluegraysoldier

[J. Donaldson]

What I find interesting about the image is that the gentleman is actually driving the team while posing behind the plow. If you notice his left hand, though grasping the handle of the plow, also contains the handle of a lash or prod. While he more than likely did not work his team like this, to get his team to stand so still for the camera testifies to an extremely well-trained span of oxen.

Bob