Opening: $1,200 Hammer Price: $1,500 SOLD Skylight Gallery 22 March 2006

Quarter plate daguerreotype of man with lion statuette in chains. Anonymous American, 1840s. Housed in a a battered full case with detached front lid, warping, and several missing pieces. Light tinting in blush to the sitter's cheeks and areas of the tablecloth.   ( Inventory# ib298 )

A strange and earnest image. As he grasps the forepaw of a fierce-looking lion statuette, our sitter holds the end of a small chain which has been strung around to encircle the beast. I cannot but think that this image represents a man involved in the taming or training of animals, if not lions per se.

Besides other damage the case has a chunk torn off the upper left of front cover.

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Daguerreotype

Anonymous