Lot 15

Lot 15

Brilliant sixth-plate daguerreotype of a gorgeous child. At first glance we thought this was a young girl but it could also be a boy. There are two IDs on the case label, one being “Little Manny 1859” but another as “Little Mary.” Both have a last name that we can’t decipher.  In either scenario the daguerreotypist has created a heavenly portrait streaming with light. It is framed with a bright shining window on the left and a white screen or drape on the right side. In an interesting twist a plaid bow hangs atop with the stark black background creating a lovely contrast. The child is expertly posed standing on a chair in perfect stillness while holding a piece of paper or a small box in hand. We would not be surprised if this was the photographer’s child as the staging to capture an amateur child’s portrait so precise seems almost impossible! The plate has great tones with a lovely contrast between the crisp whites and dark blacks. There is a long light swipe on the right side of the drape. Oddly at a certain angles it appears as if the white screen or drape is billowing in the wind. There are also a few other small spots and a couple of light small lines/scratches as seen. We have resealed the image with a new glass and it is housed in beautiful black union case, “Shield with Stars and Stripes”, Berg 1-53.

Opening bid $120