Antique Tintype or Ambrotype Photo of Small Child in Ornate Copper Frame

Step into the past with this rare and poignant portrait of a young child from the Civil War era. This is an authentic ambrotype or tintype photograph, a unique form of photography that created a direct positive image on a glass or metal plate, a popular method for portraiture during a pivotal time in American history (c. 1854-1865).

The portrait captures a solemn, captivating child in a formal pose, dressed in a dark, structured dress with intricate white details. A remarkable feature is the subtle, delicate hand-tinting applied to the child's cheeks, a common practice to add a touch of life and color to the otherwise monochrome image.

The photograph is held within its original, ornate brass "preserver" frame, which has developed a beautiful antique patina. The frame's delicate details and the dark backing board complete the piece, making the image visible as a positive.

This is a perfect piece for collectors of antique photography, historical artifacts, or anyone looking for a unique and meaningful decorative accent for a curiosity cabinet, cloche, library, or desk.

Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear and patina on the frame. The photograph itself has some minor blemishes and a slight haze, which is common for photos of this age and process and adds to its authentic charm.

Measurements (rounded to the nearest quarter inch):
3.5 inches in height
2.25 inches wide

All sales are final so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions prior to purchase.

VINTAGE & ANTIQUE
Vintage and antique items are pre-owned and aged goods. In most cases, we do not clean or polish any items that come into our shop. Once you remove an item's traces of age and patina it's not something you can reverse, so we leave those activities up to the buyer. We try our best to describe items accurately and disclose any and all flaws and imperfections. Please refer to pictures as a visual description. We want to make sure you are happy with your purchase so, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have prior to checkout.

SHIPPING
As much as possible, we utilize recycled shipping boxes. The box you receive your item in may show signs of wear and pre-use.

PHOTOGRAPHY
All photos are taken in natural light and we do not use any photo filters and do not perform and photo editing (other than basic photo cropping). Depending on your monitor settings, there may be subtle differences in color once you see your item in person.