Boston Man by Southworth and Hawes
SOLD October 2013 |
Overmatted quarter plate daguerreotype of older man attributed to Southworth and Hawes, Boston, circa 1855. Housed in oversize mat and case, overall dimensions of case about 5-3/8 x 4-5/8 inches (13x12 cm). Visible area of image slightly over 3.5 x 2.75 inches (9x7 cm).
While like most of Southworth & Hawes work this image is unsigned, it bears strong indications of the Boston makers authorship. The over-wide mat and oversized case used on this image was unusual for most makers -- but a common, almost trademark presentation for Southworth and Hawes, intended to display of more image area through a wider opening as well as to enhance the overall effect through more impressive size and wider surround. This brilliant and crisp plate captures personality and displays dark vignetting outside the crisp central area of image. This dark-vignetting effect is more prominent when the entire plate is viewed (see image below taken during resealing). This technique is very frequent in Southworth and Hawes work -- see daguerreotypes 761-843 and 1200-1325 of Romer & Wallis' catalogue raisonné, "Young America" (2005).
Image has a number of scratches and abrasions, primarily around edges, which are exaggerated by glare in the illustrations.
Original case has wear to exterior and leather-repaired spine.
