I have a portrait of my Grandfather that was created around the turn of the century and is called a Plasticgraph Embossed Portrait (according to a stamp on the back). An original photograph was apparently brought to the New York Portrait Company in New York and they somehow enlarged it and transferred to a sheet of lead. It appears it was then pressed out (face and chest area) from the back and then hand painted on the front. Then some type of resin plastic (red in color) was poured in the cavity in the back to maintain the form. Over time the plastic cracked and fell to the bottom of the picture.

I have not been able to find out anything on the internet about this technique nor have I ever seen any other picture similar to it. I was hoping someone might be able to provide some history about this technique and if this a rare example.

Regards,
Geoff Ullmann
San Jose, CA