Photographic Jewelry

Collector Cafe writes:

Those familiar with Victoriana may know all about photographs and jewelry but might not have come across the two combined. Photographic jewelry is jewelry that contains a photographic image in place of a cameo or gem stone. The phenomena were popular in the nineteenth century when photography was first developed. Such was the interest and novelty of the first photographs in domestic circulation that they were seen as a fitting adornment for the Middle classes.One of the beauties of photographic jewelry was that it could be worn by both men and women. The photograph proved to be highly versatile – it could be cut to any size and chosen by the wearer to show a loved one or family member. The jewelry was made into many different forms including bracelets, brooches, pendants and pins. Whilst all types of photographic jewelry are collectable, the most popular type at auction is daguerro type. Daguerro type, invented in 1839, is one of the earliest photographic processes. The image was produced on iodine-sensitized silver and developed in mercury vapor and the image formed by this process is thought to be particularly beautiful.

Dating photographic jewelry should be based on the type of photographic image used. Daguerro types were most popular circa 1839 to 1857, ambro types (images on glass) 1854 to 1865, tintypes (images on tin) 1856 to 1900 and paper images from the 1850s to the present. The value of this jewelry values enormously from the inexpensive to the very expensive. Photographic cuff-links are perhaps most affordable at around $20 - $50. Photographic pins and lockets are also easy to find and the price not too prohibitive - a gold-filled daguerreian pin, without hair start around $150. Large photographic pendants were produced around the middle of the century, again using daguerro type images. These were highly personal items and make interesting collectibles. Often the larger pendants have a glass-fronted compartment on the back to store a lock of braided hair. But for serious collectors of this jewelry a daguerrian a ring would be the most prized possession. A good example can sell for over $1500.

More info @ www.collectorcafe.com