Figure 1.--Some paper frames were plain, others like this one were highly decorated. Of course this paper frame looks more like a cabinet card. Notice the corners in which the print was held securely. This print is undated, but was probably taken about 1930 or peraps a year or so earlier. We know this because the Volga (trade mark) mat frame was patented July 5, 1927 which helps date the portrait.

Negatives also enabled photographic studios to print enlargements that could be framed for wall displays. Tin types often came in inexpensive paper sleeves. We do not see paper frames frames until after the turn of the 20th century. Cardboard mounts gradually gave way to paper frames as albumen images were replaced with silver nitrate prints. We see these paper frames in various designs. Some were very plain, often with just framing line boxes like early CDVs. Other had elaborate designs with lovely art deco styling. Some had very elaborate designs and were more like pieces of art. . Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios. At first they had to be propped up like cabinet cards. Paper frames were initially not designed to be stood up on desks and tables. Like CDVs and cabinet cards, they had to be propped up. They were more designed tob be stored away and brought out to be shown. Some might have been placed in albums, but mosly they were put away in drawers or other storage areas and brouht out to show visitors. Some had or had ovelapping flaps or protective overlsys. Eventually the cut out back support was invented so that the frames were self supporting. All of these different approaches and the styling associated with them can be used to help date photographs.

Negatives

Negative formats had many advantages. The primary advantage was that copies could be made. Calotytype cold be reproduced, but the alnumen print was the primary negative based procss for half a century (1860s-1900s). This only changes withe devlopment of silver nitrate prints whichwe begin to seen the 1900s, but did not begin to become dominant until the 1010s.

Chemical Processes

The different photogrphic formats used various chemicl processes. in types often came in inexpensive paper sleeves. This was, however, more to deliver the tin-type to the custme than display. Most of the paper fram photographs were silver nitrate rather than alumen prints. Weare not sire just why that was. But apparently larger prints could be made with the silve nitrate prints. Albumen prnts were also entirely the small prints used for CDVs and cabinet cards. We see silver nitrate prnts in larger sizes, the 8 in by 10 in print became a sandard. Silver nitrarte printing enabled photographic studios to print enlargements that could be framed for wall displays. We are not sure why silver nitrate prints were made in larger sizes than albumen prints. Hopefully readers will provide some insghts here.

Chronology

We do not see paper frames frames until after the turn of the 20th century. The thin albumen prints on carboard CDV and cabunet mounts of the 19th century gradually gave way to more substantial paper silver nitrate prints presented with paper frames. The shift from prints on cards to prints protected by paper frames took place at the same time that the shift from albumen to silver nitrate prints took place. Albumen prints were replaced with silver nitrate prints. we first begin to see large mumbers of paper frames are not sure if these sifts were related. Cabinet cards still dominated studio photography in the 1900s, but we see some portraits withpaper frames. We first begin to see large numbers of paper frames in the 1910s. And this continued into the 1950s. The frames changed over time. We see these paper frames in various designs. Some were very plain, often with just framing line boxes like early CDVs. Other had elaborate designs with lovely art deco styling like the frame here (figure 1). There were paper frames with very elaborate designs rather like pieces of art. Some were highly decorated. Others were plain. Some were done with book-like hinged covers. These trends can help ientify the date. At first the paper frames had to be propped up like cabinet cards but soon they were designd to be self supporting. Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios.

Construction

Paper frames were initially not designed to be stood up on desks and tables. Like CDVs and cabinet cards, they had to be propped up. beccabinet card, despite its name was not very easily displayed on sleves and cabinets. They had to be propped up. They were more likely to be stored away and brought out to be shown. Some might have been placed in albums. Thre were specially designed albums. There was also scrapbooking. Most were put away in drawers or other storage areas and brouht out to show visitors. We notice different plys. At first we see one plys like the beautifully decorated frame here (figure 1). Some had or had ovelapping flaps or protective overlays. We notice three ply frames, we think in the 1910s-20s. Eventually two-ply frames became standard (1930s). These opened like a book and thus could be stood up, but this did not display the image as one might like. Eventually the cut out back support was invented so that the frames were self supporting and could be effectively displsyed. All of these different approaches and the styling associated with them can be used to help date photographs. This we hope to do as we arquive dated examples.

Decoration

Notice the elaborate decoration on the frame/card here (figure 1).

Created: 1:00 PM 12/11/2014
Last updated: 12:51 PM 5/4/2017