Bidspirit auction | 1860s-1870s A Pair of Tintype

1860s-1870s A Pair of Tintype Portraits in Ornate Thermoplastic Frames - A pair of mid-19th-century cased photographs, consisting of two tintypes (ferrotypes). The first image depicts a seated man with a full beard, wearing a heavy dark jacket and trousers, with his hands clasped in his lap. The second image shows a seated woman dressed in a dark, high-collared bodice with a brooch at the neckline and a full skirt. Both subjects are captured in a seated three-quarter length pose against a neutral studio backdrop. The images are housed under glass with decorative cream-colored embossed paper mats featuring a repeating geometric and beaded border. Each photograph is set within a matching dark brown ornate thermoplastic frame, commonly referred to as a Union case style. The frames are decorated with elaborate scrollwork and stylized floral motifs at the corners. The reverse of each frame is sealed with aged blue paper, which shows evidence of two horizontal cardboard or wooden slats used for structural support. No maker marks, signatures, or studio stamps are visible on the exterior of the frames or the exposed portions of the mats. The tintypes show scattered oxidation spots (rust) across the image surfaces, particularly visible in the background areas of both portraits (photos 3 and 5). The paper mats exhibit age-toning and minor staining along the edges. Both thermoplastic frames show wear consistent with age, including small chips and abrasions to the raised decorative elements and edges (photos 2 and 4). The blue paper backings are heavily worn with multiple tears, creases, and losses (photo 6). No dimensions are provided as no measurement scale is visible in the photographs.