Amazing pair of sixth-plate daguerreotypes related to the Fairchild family of Amerherstville, now known as Amherst, Ohio, in Lorain County.  First, we have a portrait identified on a gold paper insert at the front of the leather case as Lydia Ann Fairchild daughter of Lydia & Elam Fairchild died age 20 yrs., Sister Emily J.F.  According to genealogical records, Lydia was born in 1835 and died in 1855. This daguerreotype of Lydia appears to have been taken a year or two before she died.  Lydia was an attractive young woman, dressed here in a simple black outfit with a white bow around her neck and a small pin.  A lovely comb accentuates her hair, which has been styled up. Her buckle and rings have been tinted gold and she is holding a quarter-plate leather image case.  We love the simple backdrop, which shows the fabulous detail of the fine textures in the fabric behind Lydia’s head. The image is in excellent minus condition with great tones and contrast and light tinting to her face.  There is one area of very small spots to the right of her bow that have taken on a gold hue possibly from some gold gilding that migrated from the small pin on her neck. The plate had tight old seals intact and we have resealed it with a new glass.  It is housed in a full leather case. 

The second piece is the Fairfield family home in Amherst, Ohio.  There is a pencil inscription behind the image which reads, Emily Fairchild, Amherstville, Ohio.  This late 1840’s/1850 daguerreotype shows a young girl posed in front of a large two story white house with a porch attachment on the backside to the left.  Emily is standing in the shade of a young tree which has reached some height and has cast a strong shadow on her.  The house is also partially blocked because of the tree but we notice a door just to the right.  Judging from the slightly awkward composition of this daguerreotype, it certainly has the feel of an itinerant artist. According to Craig’s Daguerreian Registry Volume 1, there was a Mrs. M. Smith who was listed as doing daguerreotypes and ambrotypes in Amherst in 1859-60, so this is possibly an early example of her work before opening a studio.  This would certainly make a great research project, particularly with the potential of an early daguerreotype by a female artist!  The image is in very good condition with slightly darker tones and contrast.  The side of the house was clearly in the shade during the exposure; however we see sunlight streaming down on the top half of the house above Emily.  There was heavy tarnish over the plate and we did a light electrolytic cleaning to remove a layer of the heavier tarnish.  We left the lighter tarnish for effect as we prefer a natural look, but this could be removed if so desired. There are some light buffing marks, seen mostly at an angle.  We have resealed the image with a new glass and it is housed in a full case with a red silk pad. 

Included with the images is a handwritten family genealogy with information about members of the Fairfield family, including J.H. Fairchild, President of Oberlin College, and his brother E.H. Fairchild, president of Berea College in Kentucky. Emily, who was two years younger than Lydia, is listed in the Oberlin student directory in 1854, a year before Lydia died; she is also listed in a 1908 directory that shows her enrolled in 1853-54 prep. Also included is a printed History of Lorain County, Ohio.  It states that Grandison Fairchild was born in Sheffield, Massachusettes in 1792.  In 1818 Grandison, with his wife (Nancy Harris) and their then three children moved to Brownhelm, Ohio, where Nancy’s family were early settlers. They traveled from Buffalo to Cleveland on the pioneer steamer, Walk-in-the-Water. We rarely see an outdoor image of an identified family house along with their genealogy and a separate family portrait, so don’t miss out on this unique combination!      $650