Portrait of a Baby, circa 1865
THF243420 / Portrait of a Baby, circa 1865
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Artifact Overview
Tintype photographs peaked in popularity in the mid-19 century. Lacquered iron plates coated with light-sensitive collodion were exposed in cameras by photographers in formal studios and mobile booths at fairs. Compared to other processes, tintypes were inexpensive and could be produced in minutes--"instant photographs" of their day. Durable and lightweight, Civil War soldiers carried them as mementos of home.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Tintype (Photograph)
Date Made
circa 1865
Collection Title
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
32.108.10
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Collodion
Iron (Metal)
Technique
Direct positive processes
Japanning
Sixth plate
Hand coloring
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 3.375 in
Width: 2.375 in
Keywords |
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Related Content
SetTintypes
- 22 Artifacts
Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.