The Daguerreotype, gives the most intimate image-viewing experience. As a one-of-a-kind original it is best viewed hand-held, tilting the image to obtain the dark reflection required to view the plate as a positive. The true beauty is revealed only to the holder and the glittering jewel-like quality of the image gives a sense of the sublime not attainable by succeeding forms of photography. These attributes are enhanced by a traditional protective enclosures that to me make it the ultimate Image Object. My contemporary Daguereotypes are made in both the Becquerel and Mercurial processes and in the 6th (2.75" x 3.25"), 1/4 (3.25" x 4.25") and 1/3rd (3.75" x 4.25") formats.

I initially began CasedImage.com in 1999 after completing a year-long program in Photographic Preservation and Archival Practice at George Eastman House to offer traditionally made enclosures for the Daguerreotype. My 11-year career in Photographic collection management in museums and archives was the background that led to this.

A reflection of the quality of the work of CasedImage.com enclosures can be seen in the list of clients, and also in the fact that I have been the sole exhibitor of contemporary Daguerreotype enclosures at important auctions of Daguerreotypes. These were the Sotheby's 1999 auction of Southworth and Hawes Daguerreotypes, and the Christie's 2003/4 auctions of Girault de Prangey Daguerreotypes. I am also a member of the Daguerreian Society, and my work is often on display at the trade fair at the annual Symposium.

Imparting the knowledge gained through these associations has also become a feature of CasedImage.com activities, with workshops and seminars delivered to the Mellon Advanced Residency Program for Photographic Conservation, to a symposium of Australian and New Zealand book and paper conservators and a Daguerreotype demonstration to a NZ Photo history symposium

Daguerreotypy requires specialized equipment that is not readily available to the modern practioner. Over the years I have amassed such items to assist in my Daguerreian art, here presented are a selection: Cameras, sensitising and developing aparatus

CasedImage.com cases are made according to a E Anthony's 1854 Catalogue from near the close of the Daguerreian era. It not only details the types of cases this large manufacturer sold and but also gave a detailed account of how they were made. The catalogue is presented here in its fullest online version and original form, click here to enter Catalogue

Regards
Alan A. Bekhuis

For email: alan(at)casedimage.com