Featured Neighbor has an old image of his mother as a child....he'd like to see if it's

at all able to be restored......I know/see there's a lot of 'cracking' on the image's surface, but I cannot tell if it's a very old negative or a daguerreotype....I was able to lighten it a bit.... if you blow it up a bit, you'll see there's a lot......ALSO part of the problem is that in the paper frame it's in, on the back it's sealed in with the light colored paper you can see at the top of the image......in the frame, the measurements are 9 inches wide and 13-1/4 inches tall.....I think the image is also quite a bit dirty....SO a couple of questions:

1. Can anyone ascertain if it's a negative or a dag???
2. If it's a dag, can it be cleaned at all, and if so, with what??
3. He wants to try to carefully remove the backing (suggested he wait until I conferred with you special authorities!)....if a negative, I think it would have some transparency, but really can't tell with the backing on--he's aware it's in pretty rough condition....so he's not holding his breath!! I've already re- stored the frame it's in digitally.......so any help, hints, tips, suggestions would be MOST helpful! AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH for any help you can offer!!! (I JUST came up with an idea too--to hold a strong flashlight or camera light up to the back.....if it's a daguerreotype, shouldn't be able to see any light through!!)

​

 

It's a (cheap for the time) tintype or tintype like (celluloid?) photograph. Try to see if a magnet attracts it. Wasn't the best of quality even when new. 1926 was pretty late for their use. It won't be transparent.

 

"Neighbor has an old image of his mother as a child....he'd like to see if it's at all able to be restored."

Just a humble opinion being offered here. Only a digital restoration will remove the distraction of the cracked emulsion. It will not sharpen the image. It will only remove the distraction.

The following is an oversimplified example without using Photoshop. All I've done is adjust focus and contrast to minimize the the distracting aspect, making it easier to enjoy the subject. Photoshop results will be far better in reducing the visual cracks in the emulsion, but that's all.

 

totally agree, a digital restoration is the way to go,

i wouldn't even touch the original, it would just get worse i reckon

 

There are some artists out there who might be able to improve more than just the craquelure. If you or your friend find someone who claims to be able to, I would ask to see some examples and would discuss techniques with them, before I let them touch the original.

We had a woman in my old pro photo group who could do amazing things with photos from the late 1800’s up through the 1930’s. She was able to do so because she was quite an artist herself, and because she had studied the photo conventions of those periods deeply. Unfortunately, I have no idea where she is today.

Good luck!

 

It's do-able, but I agree with using digital technology. Get a good clear copy of the crackled original and mess with that. Leave the original alone.

 

I'm having trouble reconciling those dimensions with the size of the thumb. Can you help...Thanks!

 

Thank you @Kronos, I never even thought of checking with a magnet!!!!
---------------

@wlwhittier, Take a good inch and a half off of the top and bottom of the frame and about an inch off of each side.....should bring it close to 7" x 10", (unless my math is WAY off!!!) BUT, truthfully, I posted the whole image larger than it actually is, because I wanted to see if one of you could decide 'tintype' or 'daguerreotype'...
---------------

Thanks, @Roaring20s, and totally agree with your thoughts!! And thanks to all so much.......he's not going to do anything with the Original, not to worry!!! AND I have NO IDEA how three comments managed to wind up in ONE reply.......but I think I've got them right !!

 

Ah...More in that pic than meets the eye! Got it!

 

Thank you.....I'll ask the owner if he wants to go 'in that direction'!!!

 

.

 

I've got a few like this in my modest collection of photos. A photo-gallery tintype, popular at tourist destinations well in the 1920's. They could be done in a few minutes and were almost never varnished, hence the crackling of the emulsion. They were usually tiny, and mounted in paper.

 

Everybody has identified it, so all I can say is, don't attempt to clean it!

 

It's charming as is. Mother seen through the craquelure of time.

Debora

 

So awesome. I have one that is either my grandfather or great grandfather. Not sure which one.

 

Why don't you post a photograph with both their birth dates? Should be easy to identify from his clothing

Debora

 

Nice! I will dig it out!