Early Portrait

Opening: $250 Hammer Price: $550 SOLD Skylight Gallery 22 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.   ( Inventory# ib01 )

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.