Henry Chadwick tin type photo

bmarlowe1 · #1 05-07-2009, 01:00 PM

smokelessjoe -

quoting a disinguished board member from a prior thread:
"There's a RESEMBLANCE. But without more, it should die there. Resemblances alone almost always lead to nowhere."

The reason we are being "negative" is in an effort to counter the large lack of critical thinking that causes people to bid big $ on photos like this.

First of all you are comparing a fuzzy image to another fuzzy image - pretty worthless. BTW - if you compare the nose to a clear Chadwick semi-profile image - it doesn't seem quite right. But again - the tintype is too fuzzy to be sure about anything.

smokelessjoe · #2 05-07-2009, 01:55 PM

Mark,

I am well aware of the reasons to be negative in ones approach at comparing something in question. Obviously there are reasons for looking at similarities as well, I was just pointing out a (what I think) lack there of in that category. A balanced approach from both sides of the coin is what is fair.

First of all, we all are comparing fuzzy images to the like. That is all we have at this point, so that is all we CAN compare. A question was posed and I as well as many others have replied. I see more than just a resemblance including the noses... Again, in my opinion someone is going to buy something whether we criticize it or praise it, and if you do not do your research and find a comfort zone with your purchase then you are at fault.

I for one would not buy this tin-type with the thinking that anyone in the picture is a known person. As others have said, there is not enough info.

barrysloate · #3 05-07-2009, 01:56 PM

Henry Chadwick did have a house on Long Island in Noyac (I too have a house in Noyac) which was near Little Trout Pond, so he may indeed have liked to fish. But as Mark said the picture is tiny and his face is entirely covered by a beard. Similarities with Chadwick for sure, but no way you can simply say it is him. Provenance would be very important here.

smokelessjoe · #4 05-07-2009, 02:03 PM

Barry,

You are dead on... I also know I have read some stories about him fishing in other places.

Provenance could be huge here, it would be nice to here back from the original poster?

I would also like to see the rest of the tin-type. It looks like it is in a hinged case and could have another picture on the other side??? A back image of the whole thing would be nice as well.

bmarlowe1 · #5 05-07-2009, 02:15 PM

smokelessjoe said:

"I see more than just a resemblance including the noses... "

There is no perceiveable resemblace between these two noses.

smokelessjoe · #6 05-07-2009, 02:30 PM

Mark said:

"There is no perceiveable resemblace between these two noses."

There is no perceiveable difference between these two noses.

bmarlowe1 · #7 05-07-2009, 02:42 PM

Wow - I'm guessing you do photo ID for one of the major auction houses.

I could perhaps point out the completely different appearance of his right nostril, or the different angle of the front edge of his nose, or that the real Chadwick nose sticks out way farther - I could draw arrows, do an overlay, etc., but I doubt that would help you.

smokelessjoe · #8 05-07-2009, 02:51 PM

Or... You could point out that "you are comparing a fuzzy image to another fuzzy image - pretty worthless."

Wait, you already have...

bmarlowe1 · #9 05-07-2009, 03:08 PM

Your response was non-responsive - so I guess you agree with my previous post.

I will respond to your comment. First of all, when you quote me, you should include the entire quote - which said that even though the image was fuzzy - the nose did not look quite right. Fuzzy images are often worthless for confirming an identity with high reliability, but they can be useful in showing it is not someone - if there is a feature that retains enough integrity to show that it's outline or basic shape is different than that of a confirmed photo of the person in question.

In any case, I never imagined anyone would actually say that the noses looked similar.