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Framed Ambrotype Photo Of Two Girls 1870-1890s

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 - 300.00 USD
Framed Ambrotype Photo Of Two Girls 1870-1890s
Featured in this lot is this large 1870-1890s framed Ambrotype photo of two young girls. A popular early photographic technique in the middle of the 19th century, especially in the 1850s and 1860s, was the ambrotype. On glass plates, it involved producing photographic images that were favorable. A glass plate was covered in a light-sensitive collodion emulsion to create an ambrotype. This required the subject to remain still for a longer exposure time as the glass plate was then exposed to light inside the camera. Immediately after exposure, the glass plate was chemically developed, yielding a direct positive image. A dark backing material, usually black or dark red in color, was positioned behind the glass plate to improve the visibility of the image. As a result, the image appeared positive against the dark background, giving the Ambrotype its distinctive appearance.
The Ambrotype shows two young girls standing next to each other holding hands as they look towards the viewer with no smile on their face. They are wearing identical dresses. The photo is set in a beautifully designed gold colored frame with a pane of glass protecting the photo. The photo shows some wear, but no obvious signs of damage are noted. The piece measures 5 5/8" L x 4 3/8" W.