Secret Life of Antiques: 19th-Century Union Cases Every Collector Will Love

These small, molded cases were designed in the mid-19th century to protect early photographs—daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes—at a time when having your portrait taken was still a rare and meaningful event.

Before Union cases, photographic images were often carried in leather or papier-mâché cases. The introduction of molded Union cases marked a turning point, because they were more durable, less expensive, and could be made with charming detailed relief designs that leather couldn’t. They were made in the most beautiful designs, finding them in good condition is quite rare, many have cracked and chipped over the decades.

Made from a mixture of wood flour, shellac, and dyes, Union cases could be pressed into detailed molds that allowed for intricate designs: flowers, clasped hands, eagles, cherubs, and other symbols that reflected the sentiments, hopes, or patriotism of the era. They weren’t just decorative—they were deeply personal, carrying images that might be the only likeness of a loved one. {Most often these cases have been referred to as "gutta percha", which is incorrect, as according to experts no known photographic case has ever been proven to have been made of this substance, they are made of thermoplastic.}

What’s most captivating is how lived-in these cases feel. Worn corners, softened details, and loose hinges show that they were carried, touched, and cherished. Soldiers kept them in pockets, mothers tucked them in drawers, and couples exchanged them as intimate tokens. They were objects meant to be handled, not just admired.

Tips for Collectors:

For collectors today, identifying a 19th-century Union case is about noticing the details: molded reliefs rather than surface decoration, metal hinges and clasps, and velvet or silk interiors. Every small feature tells a story of its time, its maker, and its owner.

Caring for Your Union Case:

If you’re lucky enough to own a 19th-century Union case, gentle care goes a long way. Keep it in a stable, dry environment, avoid direct sunlight, and handle it with clean hands. Never attempt harsh cleaning—preserving its age and patina is part of its story.

The Quiet Magic of Union Cases

What I love most is their quiet legacy. These tiny cases hold moments of love, loss, and remembrance. They remind us that photographs were once precious objects, carefully preserved and held close. Even now, they invite us to pause, look closely, and honor the lives they once touched. Small in size, but enormous in history—Union cases are a reminder that some of the most meaningful stories come in the tiniest packages.

Why Union Cases Still Feel Modern

Union cases carry a quiet modernity. Their shadowed surfaces, sculptural depth, and intimate proportions feel comfortable in contemporary spaces — resting among well-loved books, layered on a table, or paired with early photographs and cherished ephemera.

They ask us to pause. To look closer. To feel the weight of time in the palm of the hand. Most of all, they remind us that antiques were once tenderly personal — opened and closed with intention, held close, and treasured by someone who could never have imagined their small keepsake would outlive them, to be admired and loved generations later.

Discover a small, carefully chosen selection of 19th-century union cases — each one chosen with discernment for its history, presence, and enduring elegance, and held for the quiet intimacy it once protected.

 

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.