Opalotypes…. maybe

Well these two arrived today as promised. A little something different from the usual tintypes and ambrotypes. These, I think, are opalotypes and are whole plate in size. If you know different then let me know.

“Opalotype or opaltype is an early technique of photography. Opalotypes were printed on sheets of opaque, translucent white glass; early opalotypes were sometimes hand-tinted with colors to enhance their effect. The basic opalotype technique, involving wet collodion and silver gelatin, was patented in 1857 by Glover and Bold of Liverpool. Opalotypes exploited two basic techniques, using either the transfer of a carbon print onto glass, or the exposure of light-sensitive emulsion on the glass surface to the negative. Opalotype photography, never common, was practiced in various forms until it waned and disappeared in the 1930s. “Milk glass positive” is another alternative term for an opalotype.” – from Wikipedia

They are well glued down to their backboard and frame so I’ll not be taking these apart for a closer look. Here are a couple of raking light shots so you can see the over painted surface.

OpalCloseup02

OpalCloseup01

I wouldn’t normally of bought these, as they tend to fetch a lot of money at auction than I would usually be willing to pay, but these had been listed on Feepay incorrectly so I got them real good price. And I do like a bargain….