Mid 19th Century Ambrotypes in gold leafed frames
Recently a reader and colleague shared with me an unusual item- a lovely boxed set of antique photographs. These are no ordinary photographs, they are ambrotypes, popular in the mid 1800’s these were positive images affixed to a glass plate. Often confused with its earlier cousin, daguerreotypes, an image captured on a thin layer of glass. You can tell the difference between the two by holding the glass plate and tipping the image one way. If it is a daguerreotype it becomes nearly invisible, tip it another, and the image pops into view. It is this distinctive “memory ” that makes the daguerreotype recognizable and distinguishes it from ambrotypes and tintypes. To read more about early photography please link to my antique column on the subject at http://www.whatsupmag.com/apr06/antiques.shtml
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One side of Victorian era gutta percha case.
Even more interesting than the images it contains is the box itself, which is made from gutta percha. Popularly used for furniture and jewelry during the Victorian era, gutta percha gets its name from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The sap from the trees produced a material that could be molded into the appearance of carved wood and a number of ornate furniture items made by the Gutta Percha Company established in 1847 were exhibited at the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851. Carved brooches, lockets, and beads were made of gutta percha and sold as mourning jewelry. It was even successfully used for golf balls!
Created in a mold, the box gives the appearance of being carved.
As for the value of the box, with molded decoration on both sides and the ambrotypes that are handsomely surrounded by gold leaf decoration still in mint condition- I would place it at between $350 and $500. The box itself is worth approximately $150 and portrait ambrotypes usually start at $50 each and go up depending on condition and rarity of subject. As this is a specialized type of antique, by going directly to collectors or dealers, the seller may have better success obtaining a higher price.
Tags: ambrotypes, Antique photographs, antiques appraisals, daquerreotypes, gutta percha, Nadja Maril, Victorian era photography, What's Up? Annapolis, What's Up? Eastern Shore
