Figure 1.--Here we can see the metal frame and back of the image plate that went tnto a cased Daguerreotype or Ambrotype portrait. Notice the very plain metal frame. Here a note as to the children's identity has been included in the case. This unfortunately was rather rare. Click on the image to see the actual portrait.

Inside the protective cases was commonly a metal frame to hold the metal plate (Daguereotype) or glass plate (Ambrotype) with the image securely in place. Some early tintypes were simarly cased. Some of these frames were very plain. Others were ornate. Often the frame opening was cut in curved shield like designs. These were often done to look like they were gilded. I think they may have been made in bronze. Some were plain square or oval , but there were many more ornate frames. A good example is a dag done of the Wallis brothers in 1852. We note a similar example of an unidentified child. Some feames were done with sraight, angled sides. A good example is a portrait of Eddie Lincoln made about 1849. This was less common than the curved designs. There were also differences in the finish. Some were simply polished without any ormamental work. Others has surfaces tht had been worked, such as the Eddie Lincoln Dag. Unfortunarely most Dags are undated. This means that we are noit yet able to effectively date these different frames. Of course Ambros dare from a much more narrow window which is helpful in dating images. The development of inexpensive tin-types made for a cheaper kind of frames.

Types of Frames

Inside the protective cases was commonly a metal frame to hold the metal plate (Daguereotype) or glass plate (Ambrotype) with the image securely in place. The same frames were used for both Dags and Ambros. Some of these frames were very plain. The plain frames were either basic square/rectangular or oval shapes, but there were many more ornate frames. Often the frame opening was cut in a variety of different designs. We note, for example, curved shield-like designs. There were many other desisns. We have begun to collect examples of the various types. These metal frames were often done to look like they were gilded. I think they may have been made in bronze. Some were beautifully done with patriotic symbols like stars. These cased photographa and franes were so associated with photography in America during the early years (1840s-50s) that tintypes were treated similarly when they first appeared. Some early tintypes were simarly cased although a less expensive frame type for the tintypes.

Chronology

We are not yet sure of the chrinological trends here associated with the different types of frames, A few cased photigraphs with these metal frames are dated. We are collecting these examples to help us use the frames as a dating tool. A good example is a dag done of the Wallis brothers in 1852. We note a similar example of an unidentified child. Some feames were done with sraight, angled sides. A good example is a portrait of Eddie Lincoln made about 1849. This was less common than the curved designs. There were also differences in the finish. Some were simply polished without any ormamental work. Others has surfaces tht had been worked, such as the Eddie Lincoln Dag. Unfortunarely most Dags are undated. This means that we are noit yet able to effectively date these different frames. Of course Ambros dare from a much more narrow window which is helpful in dating images. The development of inexpensive tin-types made for a cheaper kind of frames.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Pinafores]

Created: 3:16 AM 1/9/2007
Last updated: 6:49 PM 5/9/2012