Yes, I can confirm this.
There are many countries I know about, that still have a commercial
production of tombstone photographs on porcelain. When my father died a
year ago in Moscow, my family delivered my color photograph of him to a
cemetery in order to get it on the tombstone. Any cemetery in Russia,
Poland, Checoslovakia would be providing that service. I think, that the
situation is about the same in Spain, Portugal, Italy and many other
countries.
Correct me those on the list who know more about it!
The process is usually a one color direct carbon print (or call it
pigmented gelatin,if you like), it can be a full color process in four
layers (burned once, naturally), sometimes it is dusting-on, sometimes it
is gum arabic.
It is possible to print and burn salt based processes like silver print or
kallitype as well, but it is not used commercially, as it is much more
uncertain. Salts do avaporate and the image may vanish. One needs to have
several other things both under and over the emulsion.
I am working on a book about this, but it will not be finished before next year.
Anybody interested in this subject is welcome to contact me off the list. I
am encouraging everybody to experiment with their respectiv processes on
ceramics and let me know about the results. I am willing to help, when
things start going wrong. It is best to ask in advance, though. I will
credit every picture and text provided, if i use it for my publication. I
might even have to pay for that, as there are very strict rools about that
in Norway.
I may be slow in answering, as i am extreeeemly busy all the time, but I do
always reply.
Regards to everybody and yes,
MANY THANKS FOR APIS !!!
Galina Manikova
galina@online.no