Pannotype (1853-1880)

A SHORT HISTORY

 The Pannotype was an inexpensive (and therefore attractive) process first introduced by Wulff and Co. in 1853 as an alternative to the fragile glass and paper supports of the time. Used only for portraits, the process resulted in a direct positive collodion silver photograph on a support of waxed textile fabric. These images were mainly transferred onto black oilcloth and patent leather, as the word pannotype stems from the Latin ‘pannos’ (meaning ‘cloth’).  Common formats include Carte-de-visite and cabinet cards.

THE PROCESS

The George Eastman House explains how this process was executed:

“These direct positive collodion images were made on glass and transferred onto a secondary support material by placing the glass plate bearing the image in an acidified water bath that caused the collodion film to shrink. The secondary support was then placed in the water and the two were taken out of the bath with the image in contact with the surface of the secondary support. The back of the support was then pressed against the glass with a squeegee and the plate. The back of the plate was then gently heated until the image and support fell from the glass.”

The transfer of the collodion (ambrotype image-carrying) layer onto a waxed textile reduced all danger of breakage and therefore made it possible to keep the photograph in an album/portfolio/locket/etc.

PRESERVATION AND IDENTIFICATION

Once dry, the image adheres strongly to fabric and resists even vigorous rubbing. This does not apply to long-term preservation however, and pannotypes are an extremely rare find today. Unfortunately, pannotypes are rarely found in good condition. Deterioration will often reflect the following:

• Reduced contrast 
• Collodion often cracked 
• Brittle/fragile textile support

 When caring for a pannotype, one should:

• Put into a protective mat if not framed
• Do not expose to intense light
• Like other direct positive collodion images, supply in a sealed package

Here is an example of a pannotype that was transferred onto leather:

Unidentified. “Unidentified woman, head and shoulders portrait”. George Eastman House Collection. 1981:2499:0001. Circa 1855. Accessed on ARTstor 26 February 2013. http://library.artstor.org/library/secure/ViewImages?id=8DVEZjI%2FJjs0IjZUej54RnoqWngtdQ%3D%3D&userId=hTFBcz4v&zoomparams=

  

Note the cracked composition when this image is magnified: 

REFERENCES:

Frisch, Karen. Unlocking the Secrets in Old Family Photographs. Ancestry Publishing. 1991.

George Eastman House. “George Eastman House: Notes On Photographs - Pannotype” Last modified June 26, 2009. http://notesonphotographs.org/index.php?title=Pannotype.

Lavédrine, Bertand and Jean-Paul Gandolfo, John P. McElhone. Photographs of the Past: Process and Preservation. Getty Publications. 2009.

www.artstor.org

OTHER RESOURCES:

Are you interested in viewing the insides of a pannotype photograph?