Featured Antiquers,what have I found here?

Again,thank you all for the input. I did the magnet and they do stick to it,so iron they must be. The foliage and background are painted on the tin,though its hard to photograph . They are terribly dirty,I might have to start saving some spit.

 

Do you think he is a soldier ? Anybody have a guess on why the boy is holding leaves?

 

Just don't try to auction them off as Jesse James

 

The boys hands are badly painted .. almost look like fake hands ... Joy.

 

Maybe once you’ve gotten them cleaned a bit, we can make out some details.
Below is a link about backgrounds and meanings of some poses. Hopefully if it doesn’t help you, it’s here for future reference.
https://www.museumsassociation.org/download?id=55534

 

The mouth and chin certainly look to have similarities, for sure, as well as the wide bridge of the nose.......At least to me!! And the hair is parted on the same side!!!!!!

 

thanks for posting all the links Fig Very interesting to read about them!

 

I would be afraid to do anything to them - would the paint not come off with rubbing?

 

Would probably be okay to do the ol'q-tip'n'spit method. Moisten with spit, don't rub, just gently roll the swab across lightly - repeat until no more dirt comes off. Your call if you want to try it - I've done it on several paintings without any damage - but I don't know what yours were painted with so maybe wait for other suggestions.

 

Depends if they're oil or not..................

 

Be careful if you try to clean. Remember the paint is on metal. I assume it is not very strongly bonded to the surface, as it might be on canvas. And the paint surface is crackled so chunks may be loose. I would not attempt any cleaning if I had these.

 

BTW, fascinating info/links on the tintypes, @Figtree3!!!!!!

 

Don't have any info on them but would just like to say the young boy looks like a teenage Paul McCartney.

 

So he does!