Portrait of a Young Man, circa 1865

01

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

Subject Date

circa 1865

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2015.0.20.12

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Collodion
Iron (Metal)
Brass (Alloy)
Glass (Material)

Technique

Direct positive processes
Japanning
Sixteenth plate

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 1.75 in
Width: 1.5 in

Portrait of a Young Man, circa 1865