Lot 33

Lot 33

Extraordinary half-plate ambrotype of what appears to be at least a partially blind older gentleman. This sharp image has many layers – from the one offset eye to what appears to be a missing bottom lip. Of course, this is an illusion as he has his mouth tightly closed but we do wonder if he even has any teeth left! His hair and beard are perfectly groomed, so it seems that there was someone in the house that helped him prepare for what was likely his final portrait. What might appear to be issues in the black at the bottom are actually tiny polka-dots on the lapels of his jacket that are a shade lighter than his suit. This mesmerizing ambrotype is in excellent condition with fantastic tones and contrast. We replaced the cover glass, and the image is housed in a decorative oval wood frame that has loss and wear as seen. We have attached an archival paper backing to provide additional support. We did leave the original bent nail in the back that was used for hanging at one time. You won’t find a better ambrotype than this one!