Early Portrait
SOLD March 2006 |
Sixth plate daguerreotype of an assertive man, early 1840s, by an anonymous American maker. Housed with gilt paper mat in an embossed leather case.
A brilliant early plate with rich color, in superb condition. Highlights are well-rendered and golden in tonality, with light solarization to blue on sitter's shirtfront and collar. The plate was given a light archival cleaning and is resealed with modern glass in the original early-1840s housing. The plate bears an "E. White Maker / Finest Quality A No. 1" hallmark along the top edge (beneath mat). This is an outstanding example of the early American daguerreotype.
The narrow, gilt-paper mat is impressed with a rose-and-leaf design:
The case is very well-preserved and leather hinge is still intact on the inner side, although the second leather layer on exterior has worn through. The silk pad and still richly-colored retaining felt around the image are an uncommon and attractive green.
The exterior leather of case is impressed both front and back with a rose-branch design which harmonizes with the mat design around the image. Both halves of case have a slight warp.
Images and text copyright © 2000-2023 by Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs