even if it is the most fragile among all the photographic medias, it is very common to find some of them aged of more than a century and a half and, in a pristine stage of conservation.
Unfortunately, other ones are is a poor shape; this is the case of many French daguerreotypes. Fading portraits without contrast, the surface is scratched or tarnished, some oxydation areas are visible, etc...
GOLDEN RULESIf you must remember something, it must be these three points :
| F | Never touch directly the surface of a daguerreotype, even with a silk brush. |
| F | When it is started, the damage process of the surface of a daguerreotype must be IMPERATIVELY stopped in order to avoid the disappearance of the image within a short period of time. |
| F | Any damage to the surface of a daguerreotype is IRREMEDIABLE. |
Conservation treatments of damaged photographs
- Removing the photograph from the secondary support
- Light bleaching to reduce the staining
- Making inserts for losses using Japanese paper RK-29
- Toning of the inserts harmonious with the surrounding areas
- Electrocleaning of the Daguerreotypes
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