Post an item
Share your favorites

Early Glassware Container for Collodion Photographic Chemistry

In Cameras > Camera Accessories > Show & Tell and Bottles > Show & Tell.
Vintage Camera Accessories2 of 7M.A. Root's Daguerrian Gallery Token & Award c.1850Daguerrian Photo Gallery Token c.1850
7
Love it
0
Like it

officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
bratjddbratjdd loves this.
HardbrakeHardbrake loves this.
AmberRoseAmberRose loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
BELLIN68BELLIN68 loves this.
See 5 more
Add to collection

Please create an account, or Log in here

If you don't have an account, create one here.


Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate



Posted 9 months ago

Email

rniederman
(95 items)

This is a mid-1870s bottle that held collodion photographic chemistry (the stuff is really caustic and noxious). The bottle advertises Phenix plates which were very popular at the time.

Before 'dry' photographic processes became popular in the late 1870s, it was all 'wet' photography. Photographic emulsions coating plates had to be mixed ahead of time for each picture, used while in a liquid state and developed before drying. It was a race against time and cameras of this era typically have collodion stains (considered a badge of honor) on the wood where the stuff dripped out of the plate holders and from photographers' hands.

As photography moved into the 'dry' period (plates could be prepped ahead of time and used 'dry' in the field), there was no need to keep these stout, heavy bottles. Sadly, very few have survived.

Comments

  1. BELLIN68 BELLIN68, 9 months ago
    very cool:)
  2. BELLIN68 BELLIN68, 9 months ago
    very beautiful and i love the design:)
  3. rniederman rniederman, 9 months ago
    Thanks vetraio50 and BELLIN68! And yes, the design is nice. I like the imperfection whereby it leans a little bit. There's another collodion bottle design that is just as interesting but I'm not aware of an example in any collection.
  4. rniederman rniederman, 9 months ago
    Thanks AmberRose and Phil!
  5. rniederman rniederman, 9 months ago
    Thanks, Hardbrake!
  6. rniederman rniederman, 9 months ago
    Thanks, bratjdd!
  7. rniederman rniederman, 8 months ago
    Thanks, officialfuel!

Want to post a comment?

Create an account or login in order to post a comment.