Miscellany

Ambrotype

Ambrotype depicting an elderly couple.

[Ca. 1855-1860] Half plate. Visible image 11,5 x8,5 cm. Case 18 x 14,5 cm.

The case has a protective glass and a passe partout with a gold line. The inner edge of the passe partout is in gold and has rounded corners. The verso has been opened and sealed again at some point. The sealing is executed with a paper board and some discarded paper. The protective glass is held by brown cloth that extends to the verso. A ring at the top of the case. Some wear to the cloth holding the protective glass. A couple of very small dots of damage at the picture. The image is in nice condition.

The couple in the picture are probably borned in the 18th. century. Especially the woman looks to have had a hard life. They both look quite content looking into the camera. Ambrotypes exists in one copy only, just like daguerrotypes, panotypes and ferrotypes. An ambrotype is a glass negative that has been turned into a positive by applying a black background. Ambrotypes are housed in cases since they are fragile. A tradition continued from the daguerrotype era.

Item No: 2488