When daguerreotypes were
introduced in 1839, the first people to see them were
spellbound: the New Yorker proclaimed photography
to be the "Wonderful wonder of wonders!!" --with two
exclamation points. Within a few years, millions of
daguerreotype portraits were being made, and the sheer
technological novelty of it all receded. But the sense
that daguerreotypes were something to be treasured only
grew. Throughout the daguerreian period -- which ended
shortly before the Civil War -- many galleries offered
the option of purchasing wearable daguerreotypes. These
were small, often truly tiny daguerreotypes, mounted
behind glass in bezels and then inserted into a variety
of jewelry pieces.
In their new book, Tokens
of Affection and Regard, Larry West and Patricia
Abbott add greatly to our understanding of these most
personal and treasured objects. Their information
explains the important role of daguerreotype jewelry in
the overall business of early photography studios. We not
only see a wide range of these beautiful pieces, we see
larger daguerreotypes showing them being worn or
displayed for the camera. The full-color illustrations
are dazzling -- hundreds of glittering rarities that
remind us how intimate and prized were these first
photographs.
For specialist collectors,
there is helpful documentation comparing the rarity of
different types and styles of photographic jewelry. And
for everyone interested in early photography there is
wonderful information on studio practices of the 1840s
and 1850s -- including a selection of hitherto-unseen
portraits of such famous daguerreotypists as Jeremiah
Gurney and Southworth &
Hawes.
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Tokens
is 9 x 12 inches and contains nearly
300 color illustrations
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But it's the jewelry
that takes center stage. Tiny gold keys for
winding pocket watches, and watch-fobs to be
carried by gentlemen... rings and earrings and
bracelets and diamond-studded lockets for the
ladies... all showcasing miniature
daguerreotypes, some as small as an aspirin.
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West and Abbott's
256-page book is a precious object in itself. The design
-- especially the elaborate padded binding and the
fully-gilded pages -- marks Tokens of Affection and
Regard as a luxurious keepsake befitting the
delightful gems it showcases.
The only thing it lacks is
drool-proof paper. Collectors, you have been warned.
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Only 1500 copies of Tokens
of Affection and Regard have been published. The list
price of the book is $125, but visitors to the American
Museum of Photography who purchase a copy online from the
publisher can receive a 10% discount. Please visit
www.photojewelrybook.com
and
enter the discount code
AMP at
checkout.
Click:
Museum
Home Page - - -
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Book Store
