All That Glitters, Photographic Gold

JPK Huson 1863

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Location
Central Pennsylvania
What is there which is so hugely enchanting about our early images separating them from even the finest today? Human images mostly, someone's ancestor, clear as December morning, fathoms deep.
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Cumbersome processes on glass so fragile that any survived their nearly 2 century, enigmatic journey through Time is genuinely astonishing, No expert here and this thread is not about photographic evolution. It is helpful knowing what in blazes is being referred to, however.
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" The daguerreotype process, the first practical form of photography, was made public in August of 1839, but seldom able in its earliest form to produce portraits. This was due to the lengthy exposure time required. A daguerreotype is made on a sheet of silver-plated copper. The silver surface is polished to a mirror-like brilliance. The plate is then sensitized over iodine vapor, exposed in the camera, and developed with mercury vapor. By 1840, experimenters had succeeded at increasing the sensitivity of the process by using chlorine or bromine fumes in addition to the iodine vapor. The earliest daguerreotypes tend to have bluish or slate grey tones; a brown-toning process called "gilding" came into widespread (but not universal) use late in 1840. Daguerreotypes have exceptionally fragile surfaces and for this reason, they were always furnished behind glass in frames or small folding cases.
http://www.photographymuseum.com/primer.html

Supposedly both forms were so prohibitively expensive only a small portion of the population could afford o have their ' portrait taken '. While the expense may have been a bar to many families, it's clear photos, ambrotypes were available to a range of citizenry.
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This wonderful young woman wears a terrific assortment of jewelry- none further gilt

"The ambrotype process was patented in 1854 and enjoyed great popularity for a few short years, and again during the Civil War. It produced pictures on glass instead of metal plates. Like the earlier daguerreotype, each image is unique, made one-at-a-time in the camera. The glass is flowed with a sticky material known as iodized collodion. It is then sensitized by being dipped into a bath of silver nitrate, and exposed in the camera while still wet. A chemical developer is used to bring out the image. The glass plate is then backed with black material--paint, cloth or paper--and furnished in a case similar to those used for daguerreotypes. The ambrotype process was marketed as an improvement, because the finished image lacked the glittery, elusive reflective quality of daguerreotypes and was therefore easier to view. The detail and tonal range, however, tend to be less impressive than in the earlier process."
http://www.photographymuseum.com/primer.html

How would one then declare status above the general population? Gold. Gold, the real thing was ground into powder, said powder a paint, said paint applied to jewelry inside a portrait. Not just ladies, gents too-watch chains and fobs, hat ornaments, shoe buckles, cane tops and buttons. The uniform of a well heeled soldier offered many chances to display the wealth of the sitter as brass buttons became gold, painted there impressively. No idea the cost, better believe it would have been one of the most expensive extras on a studio menu.

Besides- love them.

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A lot was discussed on Pinterest about ' top hatted girls ' No. Welsh women.

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A bride! Gosh, who would not love this as a bridal photo?

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