Perhaps the most beautiful photograph I own is a Woodburytype, mentioned
earlier, that is probably a Fenton photograph, of a golden mask from Troy.
The thing photographed is beautiful, the photograph is beautiful and so is
the thought that the Woodburytype was able to disseminate this beauty.
I am not a collector. I buy my photographs usually from junkshops or flea
markets as part of a liking for rummaging. But if Mr Benjafield places a
particularly attractive specimen under my nose I may be tempted.
I have a half plate coloured daguerreotype of a woman whose jewellery has
been guilded in the print. I wonder at the skill of the craftsman who
produced it. I have a Kilburn hand coloured albumen print in a daguerrotype
case from 1853 just before Kilburn were driven out of business by the new
and cheaper albumen/ collodion print. The print has technological,
economic and fashion interest. It is of a child wearing a dress straight
from the fashion plates of the time.
I have cartes de visites of my great great grand father and mother taken at
the time of their silver wedding. I also have their wedding photographs as
ambrotypes 101522.2625@compuserve.com (She is wearing the same dress). In the album is a photograph of
his mother who was born in 1784. These obviously have family interest but
underline the thought that before 1839 we did not know what people looked
like. Photography gave us that knowledge.
Terry King
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