Lot 34

The Butcher
$250

Engaging quarter-plate French occupational ambrotype of a butcher and/or an executive chef. The distinguished white-haired gentleman proudly displays a beautiful cut of meat ready for searing. He wears a voluminous white shirt and a black vest with a long white apron. His sharpening steel hangs from the belt around his waist. He places the meat with a large spatula underneath on the table. We love the expressive look on his face. 
The image has professional hand tinting to his entire face with some white added to his hair and his outfit. The image is slightly darker in tonal qualities, especially around the meat, yet reads even better with some light. The reddish spots that you see at the bottom are some color pigments that must have accidently dropped on the plate while tinting. The passe-partout has a few tiny spots of the reverse paint missing as seen. It is housed in the original gold gilded frame that has some damage and loss.