Ninth-Plate Ambrotype

Ninth-Plate Ambrotype (1855 - 1865), 19th century portrait, vintage Union Case, 2 x 2.5. Developed in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer, ambrotype, or amphitype, hails from the Greek words "immortal" and "impression." These images were impressed on glass through a variant of the wet plate collodion process. They required shorter exposure times than daguerreotypes and were more affordable to manufacture, two factors which contributed to their rise in popularity before the advent of the carte de visite in the early 1860s.

Presented in this embellished Union Case is a crisp 19th century half-length portrait of a young woman donning an oversized feathered hat and lace gloves, with the addition of pink-tinted cheeks. The interior of the front cover is lined with a red velvet fabric bearing the imprint of an antique vase. The case is still attached at the hinge and comes with the original, still-functioning closure clasp.

In fine condition, with the expected wear to the exterior of the case.