Do you have a daguerreotype in your family photo collection?

Daguerreotypes

If you do, it's at least 150 years old! Introduced in France in 1839 by Louis Daguerre, the daguerreotype was the first photographic process widely used. It consisted of a silver/mercury image on a highly polished mirror. The elaborate, labor-intensive daguerreotype process produced a beautiful, highly detailed image. Not made from a negative, a daguerreotype is a one-of-a-kind image. It’s likely that any daguerreotype is the only existing artifact from the event that produced it.

In America, daguerreotypes were usually protected by a pane of glass and sealed in hinged cases; in Europe they were protected by a sheet of glass and framed. The daguerreotype had faded in popularity by 1860 or so, replaced by less expensive and simpler techniques.

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Identification

Sometimes confused with daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes were also made on non-paper supports. Ambrotypes were made on an opaque glass support, while tintypes were made on a thin sheet of lacquered iron. All three types can be found in hinged cases; therefore it may be hard to determine the nature of the support, and the object in question may give the impression of being any of the mentioned processes.

Here’s what to look for: A daguerreotype image appears positive or negative depending on your viewing angle. Ambrotypes and tintypes always present a positive image. So, if you look with attention while tilting the image, you’ll be able to tell a daguerreotype from the other two types.

Care

Daguerreotypes are very susceptible to abrasion and airborne pollutants. They quickly tarnish when exposed to air. To a lesser degree, daguerreotypes are sensitive to light, and they are somewhat sensitive to moisture and water. (In the case of colored daguerreotypes, the dyes are sensitive to moisture and water.)

If your daguerreotype is sealed in a case or frame, the best thing to do is to keep it as it is and just enjoy the image. Never attempt to repair or replace any of the parts without the help of a conservator.

If your daguerreotype is not encased or framed, or if the seal is broken, the delicate image is extremely susceptible to damage. Anything that comes in contact with the surface of the image is potentially abrasive! Don’t clean or touch the surface of the image with your hands, cloth, or tools. Immediately seek the help of a conservator to seal your image.

Thanks to Mark Osterman from the George Eastman House for his comments on daguerreotypes.

Quote of the Month

"I have seized the light. I have arrested its flight." - Louis Daguerre

Link of the Month

The Daguerreian Society - dedicated to the art, history and science of the daguerreotype. Their site features galleries, extensive resources, and information about the Society.

 http://www.daguerre.org/