Featured Large Photo Bad Shape Can It Be Saved?

Hi,
I've had this photo for some time now, saved it and a couple of others from the garbage. This is large (21"), came out of a convex glass frame - is there anything that can be done to save this?
What time period do you think this is from? The buttons look like maybe antler buttons.
thanks for looking
Mary

 

sorry, don't know how I posted double of the photos! Is there an edit button here?
mary

 

1920s. You could salvage it with archival tape on the back, but these were printed on not-so-great paper, so it's going to be a temporary fix.

 

Is that another picture behind him? They can do a lot with old pics,but it gets pricey.

 

Thanks rivets. Such a cute baby, he would have been the apple of someone's eye long ago.
Yes johnny, there are 2 other photos - one of a lady and the other a man in a military uniform.

 

Good and Bad news.

Your image is on poor quality paper that will only continue to deteriorate. It looks like it was mounted on top of another photo. That could be problematic.

There is not much consorvation that can be done, except as noted to tape the back with bookbinders glue.

The good news is that these photos are more drawing than photo, which can make restoration seamless. Under the hands of a compitant restorer, it could be rejoined, rebacked and painted in with an airbursh so you would hardly notice. The price is usually only worthwhile if this is a family member, as its value otherwise might be less than the cost of restoration.

Without being restored it has a certain esthetic that speaks of its long hard journy.

PS, I am the worstest spelter and I can't find the spell check button on this forum and I just can't be bothered otherwise.

 

Do you still have the frame? I agree with the other posters above. It would not be worth the cost of restoration unless it had sentimental value and you or somebody close to you wanted to keep it.

If you had a large enough scanner you could scan it in and repair it digitally -- but these types of photos are often larger than the beds on scanners that most people have at home.

 

Adorable picture! Look for photo restoration or touch-up in local b to b listings or see if there is a professional photographers association nearby. Ask them if they have someone who does touch-up work. Ask to see some similar work before you hand it over. If you don't have anyone who can do that in your area, you might get a good quality high-res photo taken of it and have that fixed digitally and reprinted. In our area we had a woman who could make glare disappear, fix an old faded photo, and even touched up a cast iron dog for someone once. Early photos of people of color are hard to come by - hope you can get it fixed. - cheers

 

I have an oval identical to your pic of my grandfather, dated 1904 with the same composition and size . It flakes,and has cracks like yours so I had it made into a negative and a bunch of pictures made for my family. The studio fixed it so you can't see any damage on the negative but didn't repair the original. I was amazed by the excellent work. Of course being a family member there was no worry on cost. Your pic is nice