Ferrotype Child’s Portrait

Ferrotypes are also known as tintypes, which refer to this early type of photographic process of a direct positive image being transferred to a thin sheet of metal, which was actually lacquered iron. Ferrotype portraits remained popular throughout the end of the 19th century due to the ease and portability of the process, making them favorable for memory images at amusement parks and boardwalks. This beautifully framed child’s portrait has some hammered manipulation of the iron plate to give an illusion of dimension, which is given further depth with the addition of hand-painted details. A sweet and delicate memory of an unknown child, long gone. Circa 1880’s.