Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T05:17:34.334Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Unveiling the Ambrotype: Characterization of Two 19th Century Photographs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2018

Leonor Costa ,
Margarida Nunes ,
Sónia Costa ,
Milene Trindade ,
Catarina Miguel  and
Teresa Ferreira
Leonor Costa
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Margarida Nunes
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Sónia Costa
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Milene Trindade
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, Quinta do Contador. Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
Catarina Miguel
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Teresa Ferreira*
Affiliation:
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal Chemistry Department at the Science and Technology School, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
*
*Author for correspondence: Teresa Ferreira, E-mail: tasf@uevora.pt
Get access

Abstract

This work used a multi-analytical approach to characterize two 19th century ambrotypes and was motivated by the lack of insight on these historical objects. Photographic imaging and optical microscopy (OM) were used to identify abrasions, cracks related to reticulation, tarnishing, and other aspects associated to production and degradation processes. With variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) these processes were seen with great detail and further characterized. Elemental point analysis and elemental mapping showed that the photosensitive material used was silver iodide. Degradation compounds were found as silver and chlorine-containing compounds. In one of the items, the tarnishing area also contained redeposited silver in a ring-shape surrounding a nucleus rich in silver, copper, and sulfur, in addition to copper-based salts. EDS analyses also identified that the supports were common soda–lime–silica glasses, refined with arsenic; and showed that a pigment rich in iron was used in both items to hand color the cheeks, extended with aluminum silicates alone or mixed with barium sulfate. The μ-Raman study pointed out that a synthetic Mars pigment was employed. μ-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses identified collodion as the binder. Shellac was used as a protective varnish in one of the items and a gum was possibly employed on the other. Bitumen was used for the background in one ambrotype.

Keywords

Ambrotypecollodionglass plate19th-century photographsdegradationVP-SEM/EDSµ-FT-IRµ-Raman
Type
Material Sciences
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , February 2019 , pp. 203 - 213
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Berthumeyriea, S, Collina, S, Bussierea, PO and Therias, S (2014) Photooxidation of cellulose nitrate: New insights into degradation mechanisms. J Hazard Mater 272, 137–147.Google Scholar
Biser, B (1899) Elements of Glass and Glassmaking. Pittsburgh, PA: Glass and Pottery Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Borrego, AG, Blanco, CG, Prado, JG, Díaz, C and Guillén, MD (1996) H NMR and FTIR spectroscopic studies of bitumen and shale oil from selected Spanish oils. Energy Fuels 10, 77–84.Google Scholar
Broad, R, Power, G and Sonego, A (1993) Extender pigments. In Surface Coatings: Volume 1 Raw Materials and Their Usage, Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association (Ed.), pp. 514–529. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer Netherlands.Google Scholar
Burgess, N (1861) The ambrotype manual Part II: Practical details of the ambrotype process. In The Photograph and Ambrotype Manual: A Practical Treatise, pp. 125–234. New York: Hubbard, Burgess & Co. Google Scholar
Carretti, E, Milano, M, Dei, L and Baglioni, P (2009) Non-invasive physicochemical characterization of two 19th century English ferrotypes. J Cult Herit 10, 501–508.Google Scholar
Centeno, SA, Schulte, F, Kennedy, NW and Schrott, AG (2011) The formation of chlorine-induced alterations in daguerreotype image particles: A high resolution SEM-EDS study. Appl Phys A 105, 55–63.Google Scholar
Derrick, MR, Stulik, DC and Landry, JM (1999) Spectral interpretation. In Infrared Spectroscopy in Conservation Science, Balls T and Tidwell S (Eds.), pp. 82–129. Los Angeles, CA: The Getty Conservation Institute.Google Scholar
Dony, A, Ziyani, L, Drouadaine, I, Pouget, S, Faucon-Dumont, S, Simard, D, Mouillet, V, Poirier, J, Gabet, T, Boulangé, L, Nicolai, A and Gueit, C (2016) MURE National Project: FTIR spectroscopy study to assess ageing of asphalt mixtures. In Proceedings of 6th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress, Suchý K, Valentin J, Southern M, Karcher C, Odelius H, Michaut J and Cointe F (Eds.) Prague: Czech Technical University. Available at http://guarant.topinfo.cz/ee2016/download/proceedings/data/c154.html (retrieved September 25, 2017).Google Scholar
Duncan, LM (2009) A Technical Study of Five Ruby Ambrotypes. Available at http://lisaduncanllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/duncan_technical_study_ambrotype1.pdf.Google Scholar
Eastaugh, N and Walsh, V (2004) The Pigment Compendium: Optical Microscopy of Historical Pigments. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.Google Scholar
Eastaugh, N, Walsh, V, Chaplin, T and Siddall, R (2008) Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary of Historical Pigments. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.Google Scholar
Eaton, GT (1965) The photographic process. In Photographic Chemistry in Black-and-White and Colour Photography, pp. 7–10. New York: Morgan & Morgan.Google Scholar
Faria, DLA, Silva, SV and Oliveira, MT (1997) Raman microspectroscopy of some iron oxides and oxyhydroxides. J Raman Spectrosc. 28(11), 873–878.Google Scholar
Franquelo, ML and Perez-Rodriguez, JL (2016) A new approach to the determination of the synthetic or natural origin of red pigments through spectroscopic analysis. Spectrochim Acta A 166, 103–111.Google Scholar
Image Permanence Institute (IPI) (2017) Graphic Atlas. Rochester, NY: Rochester Institute of Technology. Available at http://www.graphicsatlas.org/ (retrieved September 20, 2017).Google Scholar
McCabe, C (1991) Preservation of 19th-century negatives in the national archives. J Am Inst Conserv 30(1), 41–73.Google Scholar
McCormick-Goodhart, M (1989) Research on collodion glass plate negatives: Coating thickness and FTIR identification of varnishes. J Am Inst Conserv 3, 135–150.Google Scholar
Nivitha, MR, Prasad, R and Krishnan, JM (2016) Ageing in modified bitumen using FTIR spectroscopy. Int J Pavement Eng 17(7), 565–577.Google Scholar
Osterman, M and Romer, GB (2007) History and the evolution of photography. In The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography: Digital Imaging, Theory and Applications, History and Science , Peres MR (Ed.), pp. 23–177. Oxford, UK: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Pavão, L (1997) Conservação de Colecções de Fotografia. Lisboa, Portugal: Dinalivro.Google Scholar
Price, BA and Pretzel, B (Eds.) (2009) Infrared and Raman users group spectral database. Available at http://www.irug.org.gc.ca/symposium/2011 (retrieved September 3, 2017).Google Scholar
Proniewicz, LM, Paluszkiewicz, C, Weselucha- Birczyńska, A, Barański, A and Dutka, D (2002) FT-IR and FT-Raman study oh hydrothermally degraded ground wood containing paper. J Mol Struct 614, 345–353.Google Scholar
Rogge, CE (2014) The varnished truth: The recipes and reality of tintype coatings. J CultHerit 15, 57–63.Google Scholar
Stuart, BH (2007) Analytical Techniques in Materials Conservation. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Google Scholar
Stulik, DC and Kaplan, A (2013) The Atlas of Analytical Signatures of Photographic Processes: Silver Gelatin. Los Angeles, CA: The Getty Conservation Institute.Google Scholar
Sutton, T (1857) A Treatise on the Positive Collodion Process. London, UK: Bland & Long.Google Scholar
Taft, R (1938) Photography and the American Scene: A Social History, 1839-1889. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.Google Scholar
Towler, J (1864) The Silver Sunbeam. New York: J. H. Add.Google Scholar
Tragni, CB (2005) The Use of Ultraviolet-Induced Visible Fluorescence for Examination of Photographs. Rochester, NY: George Eastman House/Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology.Google Scholar
Valverde, MF (2005) Photographic Negatives: Nature and Evolution of Processes. Rochester, NY: George Eastman House/Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology.Google Scholar
Waldack, C and Neff, PJR (1858) Treatise of Photography on Collodion. Cincinnati, OH: Longley Brothers.Google Scholar
Whitman, K, Osterman, M and Chen, J (2007) The History and Conservation of Glass Supported Photographs. Rochester, NY: George Eastman House/Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology.Google Scholar
World Bank Group (2007) Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Glass Manufacturing. Washington, DC: International Finance Corporation.Google Scholar
Yu, H, Liu, L, Wang, X, Wang, P, Yu, J and Wang, Y (2012) The dependence of photocatalytic activity and photoinduced self-stability of photosensitive AgI nanoparticles. Dalton Trans 41, 10405–10411.Google Scholar