Ambrotype photo of child wearing tartan c. 1860s

$85.00 CAD

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Nice photo of child wearing what appears to be a tartan. Bit of pink in cheeks.

Purple felt in front part of case.

1/9 plate photo.

Front half of case detached. Some damage to border of case (where connected to front). Scuffing on back of case.

2" x 2-1/2".

 

Ambrotypes

Developed in 1851, the ambrotype took over the popularity of the daguerreotype and pretty much displaced it by 1860. It was much cheaper to produce than a daguerreotype, could be made with a shorter exposure time, and you didn’t have to tilt the plate to see the image. The ambrotype made photography more affordable for middle and working class people.

Ambrotypes were made on a glass plate coated with a wet, light sensitive substance, which when developed and dried, produced a negative image. The negative then had to be mounted against a dark background or coated with a dark varnish to give the illusion of a positive.

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