Ninth-Plate Ambrotype

Ninth-Plate Ambrotype (1855 - 1865), 19th century portrait, ornate 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.

Enclosed within this Union Case is a 19th century half-length portrait of a young man posing with a flute, bordered by an elaborate floral-embellished oval gold frame. The interior of the front cover is lined in tan floral-emblazoned velvet. Case is fully attached at the hinge and still features the original, functioning closure clasp.

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