1860 Wealthy Country Gent Wife Tintype

1860 Wealthy Country Gent Wife - Antique Good Condition, Visible Wear See Photos - Item gives period image of dress and disposition genuine to 1860s life in America.  The piece measures 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" ... Includes FREE SHIPPING. Note the projected collectibles, vintage, antiques, and memorabilia, U.S. market is poised for substantial growth on-average 6.5% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to reach $280 Billion revenue by 2033. 

This tintype from 1860 offers a tangible glimpse into a rapidly changing era, a small piece of history fixed on a thin sheet of lacquered iron. Unlike the earlier, costly daguerreotypes, the tintype process, or ferrotype as it was also known, had by this time made photography far more accessible to the burgeoning middle and working classes. Created using the wet collodion process, a photographer would coat the metal plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, expose it in the camera while still wet, and develop it quickly, often within minutes, allowing for relatively fast and affordable portraits. The resulting image, a direct positive, possesses a unique, sometimes slightly imperfect, quality with a matte appearance and tones ranging from warm browns to grays, often showing charming imperfections like developing blemishes or the occasional scratch on its durable surface. In 1860, as the nation teetered on the brink of conflict, these inexpensive and portable images became especially poignant, frequently capturing the likenesses of soldiers heading off to the Civil War, a cherished memento to be left with loved ones or carried into the uncertainty of battle. Housed perhaps in a simple paper sleeve, a decorative mat, or occasionally a small case, this tintype served not just as a likeness, but as a significant personal artifact, democratizing portraiture and preserving a moment in time for those who previously could not afford such a luxury.