Yard Sale Find, Ambrotype

rebelfirefighter07 · Jul 19, 2009

Yesterday I went to an indoor yard sale in Dalton, Ga and found this ambrotype. The lady said she had no idea what kind of picture it was or who it was. She said it was in a box that her friend got at an estate sale. The scan by no means does this picture justice. It has much much clearer details in person. The baby has a freaked out look on its face, I imagine scared by the camera. The lady has a ring on two fingers on the hand around the baby. It looks almost like a drop of gold on the rings as well as in the center of the ribbon around her neck. I believe her belt has a two piece buckle and the sleves of her dress appear to have small tassle like things at her hand. Her hair is also parted in the middle. I at first thought that she may be wearing a mourning dress but I honestly don't know much about lady's wear. The case shows age but is in decent shape compared to some I've seen online. Anything yall could tell me to help me age would be geatly aprreciated. Any and all information is appreciated. Thanks!

Digginnit · Jul 19, 2009

I have one of those of my great, great?, grandfather. If you gently pop the picture out of the holder the name may be written on the back.

rebelfirefighter07 · Jul 19, 2009

Thats what i was thinking but I'm afraid i'll break it or mess it up.

twistidd · Jul 19, 2009

Nice find. I am both fascinated and creeped out by those old photos of people, where their eyes have that devoid, possessed-kind of appearance. Especially on the babies. And also the fact that the people in the photos almost never smiled. Kind of chilling in a way!

Joe

deathhare · Jul 19, 2009

As far as dating goes....Ambrotypes were used from the late 1850s to the mid to late 1860s.
The process wasnt used all that long so its age is probably somewhere in that window, I'd guess.