U.S. NAVY SAILOR PORTRAIT

Treatment completed April 2023

Author ········· unknown
Title ········· U.S. Navy Sailor Portrait
Year ······ c. 1910-1950
Medium ········· Silver gelatin developed-out paper
Dimensions (H x W): Print - 7” x 4.75”; Mount - 10 x 4.75”
Owner ······· Delaware Historical Society

Description

This photograph is a gelatin silver photograph, with a warm image tone, printed on a “silk” (Kodak Y) texture photographic paper. The photograph is comprised of a silver image, gelatin binder, and a baryta paper support secured in a studio presentation envelope. The image depicts a U.S. Navy sailor posed from the waist up in front of a table with flowers.

The housing is an original presentation envelope with the studio information embossed on the center bottom edge “BLUEBIRD STUDIO 315 MARKET ST. WILMINGTON, DEL.” There is a black and silver frame around the window mat and slit along the right edge for inserting and removing the print.

Condition Assessment

The print is in fair condition overall. Most significant is the tear on the top left edge of the print, extending 2 ½” to the center of the print. There is emulsion loss associated with the tear and a significant amount of surface grime overall. There is minor silver mirroring along the bottom edge, lower right edge, and D-max areas.

The housing is also in poor condition overall. The top flap of the envelope is missing along with additional minor losses along all edges. There are scattered tears on the top left edge, upper right edge, lower right edge, and lower left edge. There is overall surface grime and scattered stains on the top left corner, top right corner, and center left edge. Additionally there is a large crease along the bottom half of the flap of the envelope, approximately 3” long.

On the verso of the housing, there are various tears and creases, one tear that starts at the right top edge and extends to the lower left edge, approx. 6”, and another smaller tear approx. ¾” on center right edge. Additionally there is lifting paper fibers on top center edge, scattered minor abrasions, and overall surface grime.

Treatment Report

Removed print from envelope while protecting surface of the print from abrasion using silicone release paper or Mylar.
Surface clean print recto and verso and mount using soft brush, microfiber cloth, polyurethane cosmetic sponges, and/or solvent applied with cotton swabs to reduce surface grime.
Consolidate lifting and cracking emulsion and loose paper fibers using a solution of photographic grade gelatin in deionized water.
Consolidate delaminating areas of the mount using wheat starch paste or methylcellulose.
Mend tears and creases to print using mulberry paper adhered to the verso of the print using an appropriate adhesive.
Mend tears and creases to mount using mulberry paper adhered to the verso using an appropriate adhesive.
Inpaint areas of image loss using watercolors, colored pencil, and/or pigments in Aquazol applied over an appropriate isolating layer.
Reinsert print into original presentation envelope.