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Werner Bosshard
By Stefan Fiedler
By Stefan Fiedler
It started with a photograph bought at a flea market in Zürich. Since, Werner Bosshard has assembled a magnificent collection of some 2500 daguerreotypes.
Can you tell me a bit about your background and when and how your interest in photography was sparked?
I completed a four-year apprenticeship as a reproduction photographer when I was young, with additional training at the School of Arts and Crafts. Photography was a key part of that.
What is your main collecting interest and why?
My main interest lies in daguerreotypes. This first photographic process fascinates me because of the magical silver mirror that allowed time to be captured and fixed.
Your collection has become legendary. Could you give me a brief overview of it?
It consists largely of daguerreotypes from all over the world.
What fascinates you about this process?
Daguerreotypes are the origin of our visual present.
Do you focus on specific themes or countries?
Naturally, Switzerland is a focus, though—unfortunately—such pieces are hard to find.
Can you select three daguerreotypes and tell me a little about them?
One fascinating example is a full-plate image by Southworth & Hawes: a portrait of two sisters from 1843 featuring stunning lighting. The faces are artfully modelled, truly one of the first examples of fine-art photography. The first known outdoor shot of Zurich: the new post office building, with Isenring and his son in the frame, also a full-plate image. Finally, a watchmaker sitting at a table, shown in full-body profile while examining a watch.
Early art photographers, daguerreotype, full-plate, circa 1843.
New Postoffice Zürich - earliest known photo of Zurich, Switzerland,
daguerreotype, full-plate, 1844.
Daguerreotype, 3/4 plate, 13 May 1844.
How extensive is your collection? Roughly how many items does it comprise?
It consists of approximately 2,500 daguerreotypes.
Did you have mentors at the time? Did you join a collectors' community?
I have been a member of the Club Daguerre for ages. When I started collecting, there was essentially no one in my circle who understood anything about daguerreotypes.
What were the first photographs you acquired?
The first one was a simple portrait made in England, bought at a flea market in Zurich.
How did your collecting activities progress after that?
Collecting daguerreotypes is like a disease. Once you’re infected, your enthusiasm just keeps growing.
Daguerreotype, halfplate, recto and verso.
How have you educated yourself over the years?
Learning by doing and through fellow enthusiastic collectors.
Where did you buy your pieces back then, and where do you buy them now? (Privately, from dealers, on internet platforms like eBay, etc., online auctions, flea markets...?)
Back then, often at flea markets. Today, primarily from collectors, dealers, and at international fairs.
Model name: Palmyre.
Stereo daguerreotype, colorised nude, circa 1850.
Stereo daguerreotype, colorised nude, circa 1850.
What do you most regret not acquiring?
There was once a panorama made of six half-plates that I couldn't afford at the time.
What are you still hunting for?
I’m only looking for very exceptional pieces now. Or signed Swiss daguerreotypes.
Have you documented your collection, and if so, how?
My collection is well documented in various book publications, though not completely. However, I am currently working on creating a complete catalogue.
Have you digitised the items in your collection (especially the photographs)?
Yes, they have all been digitised.
Which events, fairs, etc., do you attend regularly?
The 24.39 Classic Photography Fair in Paris—not to be confused with Paris Photo, though it takes place during the same period. I also attend the Bièvres photo flea market and the Vienna Vintage Photo Fair. You can find something at all of them, to suit any budget.
How many exhibitions of your collection—or which ones—have you organised so far?
The largest solo exhibition was at the Fotostiftung Winterthur. It featured over 140 daguerreotypes from my collection. It ran for two months and attracted over 20,000 visitors. Individual images or pairs of images have also been exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
What are your long-term plans for the collection?
It would be nice if a museum showed interest. However, I want to avoid a "first-class burial" in a museum basement.
In your opinion, which photo collections, museums, archives are absolute must-sees?
The George Eastman Museum in Rochester, Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, Deutsches Museum in Munich and Museum Ludwig in Cologne. But there are other great photography museums around the world, too.
What advice would you give to young, interested collectors?
Young collectors today have the privilege of a transparent market. I would recommend acquiring only expressive photographs—whether of children, families, or landscapes—and never buying damaged images. You can buy a good picture for as little as 200 euros these days.
There are always a few thousand available on eBay, though most aren't recommended for a young collector.