Edward S. Curtis Photo Gold Tone Glass Plate 11"x14” "Out of the Darkness"

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Edward S. Curtis Photo Gold Tone Glass Plate 11"x14” "Out of the Darkness":
$23400.00

VERY RARE Edward S. Curtis(1868-1952), photograph “Out of the Darkness," from negative Orotone (Gold Tone) 11”x14” glass plate most recently reframed in avintage bat wing frame, originalframe when I received the photo as a gift was an antique Adirondack-style (Tramp Art) carved wood frame (see photo # 11). Signed "Curtis" in the image lower right withcopyright symbol"©" in image lower left (see photos 8 & 9).

I recently had this Curtisauthenticated and appraised and have put it up for sale at an appropriate pricecommensurate with its vintage and authenticity.

This has been a journey since I first posted the Curtis "orotone." Due to the fact that I had received numerous inquiries asking why the Curtis glass plate photo was removed from the original Curtis bat wing frame and then reframed in an antique "Tramp Art" or "Adirondack" carved wooden frame, I decided to seek advice about removing the image from its present frame to see if there was any nomenclature or defining evidence that it was truly an original. My concern was that removing the glass plate from the frame might result in breakage of the glass or damage to the image, which could make it virtually worthless.

After consulting with a person familiar with Curtis' orotones and taking extreme care when removing it from the frame, with great apprehension, I decided to carefully remove the glass plate from the carved wood frame in order to see if there was any identifying information confirming it as a Curtis gold toneoriginal. To my surprise and excitement, I found that the paper backing was fairly intact and there were sections of the originalCurtis Studio paper label (verso) taped to the backing (see photo # 3). Needless to say, I was greatly pleased. However, the only issue is that I wasn't completely successful in removing the image from the frame without damaging it. (See photo #4 detail of upper right hand frame.) Upon pulling the glass plate from the frame, the original backing materialseparated from the glass plate and the gold-toning & emulsion was"pulled" away fromthen glass plate . It is there, but once framed it barely shows.

I decided to purchase a vintage bat wing frame andreframe it in the manner that it was originallydisplayed. (see photo #1)

Height 10 15/16” X Width 14”

NOTE:

Provenance: This Curtis image, "Out of the Darkness" was bequeathed to me in 1974 by my Great Uncle Jimmy, who resided , I think, in or near Redwood City, CA until his death in 1974. The Adirondack or “Tramp Art” frame is the only frame that I ever saw this image framed in when I first saw it in the summer of 1969. My Great Uncle had both paintings, drawings and other photographs framed in similar frames. He may have personally carved the frame -- I don't know. I have speculated thatdue to earthquake activity in Redlands City,California in the late 1960s, that perhaps the frame was damaged in a quake, but I have no factual evidence and so, that's merely conjecture.