The first time in over 900 wet plates, I accidently dropped two of my 8x10 glass ambrotypes to the floor.  The wood plate holder they were resting in fell apart in my hands within minutes of the plates drying.  They fell from three feet and shattered into a million pieces, except for this very fortunate shard, somehow amongst the rubble, this piece of glass endured, as if it was meant to be. 

I took this as a sign of fate and the plate will be finished and framed in its imperfect and broken state.  I call the plate "From the Shards" and I have to admit that there is an intrinsic value to this piece of glass and silver that could never be obtained from the intact whole plate.  It is beyond belief how this piece survived when none of the other pieces are so small and unrecognizable.  I am so happy for this most unfortunate accident.