One of my favourite things about photographing cemeteries is all the little details that can easily be missed, like ceramic portraits.
These small photographs give us a glimpse of the people whose names are carved into the stone. Some are still in pretty good shape, while others have faded, cracked, or weathered over the years. A few have deteriorated so much that it’s almost impossible to make out a face.
Today, I’m sharing a few ceramic portraits I’ve come across during my cemetery travels.
Ceramic Portraits
Ceramic portraits, sometimes called porcelain portraits or photo ceramics, are photographs that have been permanently transferred onto materials such as porcelain, glass, enamel, or metal.¹
The technique dates back to the 1850s.¹ French photographer Lafon de Camarsac began experimenting with the process in the early 1850s.¹ By 1855, he was producing photographic images on enamel and porcelain.²
Photo ceramics became popular during the second half of the 19th century.¹ Photographic images were transferred onto all sorts of things, from jewellery and decorative objects to plates and other household items.¹
The technique also found its way into cemeteries.
By the late 19th century, ceramic portraits were being used on gravestones in Europe.³ They gave families a way to preserve the likeness of their loved ones alongside their names and dates.³
Whitefish Catholic Cemetery, Whitefish ON ©2021
Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2020
Field Public Cemetery, Field ON ©2021
St. Rose de Lima Parish Cemetery, River Valley ON ©2023
Some of the portraits are still quite recognizable, even though the ceramic itself has weathered over time.
Others have faded considerably. Time and exposure to the elements can take their toll, leaving behind only a faint image.
And sometimes, there isn’t much left to see at all.
Sometimes I come across portraits that are so damaged that it’s difficult to make out the person’s face. Even so, I think they’re worth photographing. The damage is part of their story too.
Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2011
Old Greenwood Cemetery, Sault Ste Marie ON ©2019
A Different Kind of Portrait
It’s rare here in Northern Ontario, but sometimes I come across a photo of someone who looks like they’re sleeping, or possibly deceased.
Post-mortem photography became common after the introduction of the daguerreotype in 1839.⁴ It continued to be practiced into the early 20th century.⁴ Children were often the subjects because they might never have had a photograph taken while they were alive.⁴
I’ll save the deeper history of post-mortem photography for another post, because there is a lot more to explore there.
Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2022
What I find most fascinating about these little portraits is how much they can add to a gravestone.
The name and dates tell us when someone lived. The photograph gives us a glimpse of what they looked like. Even when the image has almost completely faded, you can still see the effort that was made to preserve that person’s likeness.
After more than a century outdoors, some of these portraits may be barely recognizable, but they’re still there.
And that’s what makes them worth stopping for.
Thanks for reading!
References:
- Photo Ceramic | Das Foto Museum
- Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography edited by John Hannavy | PDF
- Genealogy Tip: Gravestone Porcelain Photos | Genealogy Bank
- Post-Mortem Photography: An Overview | University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library
