Pair of Hand-Tinted Whole Plate Tintype Portraits in Original Frames

Item Details

A complementary pair of hand-tinted whole plate tintypes, likely dating from the late 1860s to early 1870s, housed in their original layered frames with brass and gilt matting. The portraits depict a man in a black jacket and bow tie, and a woman in elaborate dress, adorned with lace, a bow, and painted floral embellishments. Both are classic examples of the tintype’s use as a democratic portrait medium—here elevated by the addition of hand-applied color to cheeks, lips, accessories, and backgrounds.

The images are whole plate size (approximately 6.5 x 8.5 inches), a format much less common than sixth-plate or ninth-plate tintypes. These examples are notably vibrant, with the woman’s head covering and blue ribbon painted in meticulous detail. While the identities of the sitters are unknown, the visual connection and uniform presentation suggest they may have been a married couple or close kin.

Both tintypes show some typical age-related wear, including surface crazing and minor edge flaking, visible primarily on the portrait of the man. Housed in matching mid-19th-century wooden frames with minor wear to finish but still structurally sound and presentable.

Condition Statement:

Both tintypes exhibit surface wear, scattered abrasions, and minor emulsion cracking. The hand-coloring remains vivid. Frames are original and well-matched with age-appropriate scuffing. Neither image retains its original protective seal.