Featured Antiquers,what have I found here?

Hi all. Was cruising through the old Illwill today and saw these 2 fellows for $1 each. At first I glanced and kept going but then I looked past the cheap frames and thought "what in the world" ? They are 5x7,on copper,and I thought painted photographs but the detail like the trees around them really made me wonder. So I bought em ! Any guesses on age,wether they are oil on copper portraits or painted photos etc would be appreciated.

 

"Retablo" might be a helpful search term.

 

Fascinating! I have no idea, but I would have positively gotten those as well. (And posted them here for comments.)

Hoping someone has insight -- going to watch this thread. I'm curious, too!

Edit: Was posting as gimbler-dave posted. Maybe "Retablo" is a good starting point!

 

Retablos are usually religious themed - so hard to say on these. I like them - they seem to be high quality with great images.

 

Great minds do think alike Lucille.b!

 

me too! they are fabulous johnny

thanks for that term Gimbler-dave, never heard it before

 

Hi,
I have had photos printed on iron(tintypes) on white glass(opaltints) on paper on leather and copper sheets like these, They are not as well known but do exist. Nice find Johnny I have paid from 50 to 75 dollars for the copper ones. I like the two that you have found, A treasure trove to be sure.
greg

 

I listed some on eBay a few years ago for a customer. That was the first time I had ever heard of them. They are good sellers - the quality here should fetch 100 plus each I would think. As I recall, the religious connection could be somewhat loose. And, we don't know the story behind these and if the subjects were dead or alive.

 

Thanks for all the replies! I researched retablos and oil on copper portraits as well as folk art,but so far nothing has popped out. I wish whoever had done them had signed them! To me,it looks like the boy might be 1850s-60s? The man possibly a little later? Does anyone else think they are the same person? Im fascinated by these.

 

They are really nice, Johnny!
It’s hard to see, is the older gent wearing Calvery or riding outfit?

 

They look like painted tintypes to me... there are people who collect them. They are not always so thoroughly overpainted. These look very good. Let me see if I can find some info.

Here's a start... http://www.amesgallery.com/FolkArtPages/Tintypes.html

https://www.stevenspowers.com/paintedtintypes_gallery.html#.WvTRL6QvyM8

 

This one might take a few seconds to load:

https://www.foundphotographs.com/painted-tintypes

New York Times article about a show in 1993:
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/01/...imbing-tintypes-yearning-to-be-paintings.html

Tintypes in general were taken between approximately the 1860s to the 1920s. Their popularity lasted a long time. I do think these are probably from the 19th century.

 

Fascinating info Figtree! Thank you so much. If I understood correctly,the fact they are so heavily painted is unusual? Also,is it unusual for a tintype to be on copper ? Im SO glad I looked twice,I just love these fellows though they both look a tad mean!

 

These are awesome!

 

If you decide to sell let me know - especially the soldier/rider!

 

are you sure that's copper? magnet test?

 

I was also going to say try a magnet on it. Tintypes are on iron, but some do have a reddish color on the back.

 

About the heavy painting, I was just saying it seems unusual to me -- I am no expert, though. There might be more like that. Look at examples in the links I posted...

 

My immediate impression, without knowing much about the history of the form, is that they were originally some kind of photograph. The sitters have that look people had because they had to stay still for so long. My 2 cents is that they are studio portraits, that the foliate ornamentation at the edges could be a backdrop, although could just as well have been added free hand, & that they are more likely to be father & son than the same person at 2 different ages.

 

I agree with Bronwen, the eyebrows are the same, as is the chin, the ears, and the eyes. Father and son .. or more likely the same person at different ages, .. Joy.