It is very rare to find images of people actually wearing chatelaines. This is such an image. It is also special to have a photographer’s name. It is a sixth plate daguerreotype and the young lady is wearing a typical gown of the early Victorian era. She wears a necklace and brooch but of particular interest, from her waist hangs a watch on an apparent chatelaine. One can just see that she is holding a book. On the mat is the name Kertson, 419 B.Way (rubbed) on one side with Cor.Canal St. NY on the other. The oval image is housed in a gilt mat surrounded by gilt braid. The inside of the case is of decorative mustard-coloured velvet. The actual case has a decorative front and back with a central grape motif and the hinge is intact. The actual image has some tarnish in the left upper section and some very slight spotting on the image and the mat but is otherwise crisp. This image is a lovely example of the fashions of the era and is particularly important as it illustrates a watch chatelaine.
Sixth plate. Full case measures 3.5 ins (8.8cm) x 3.1 ins (8cm).
This item can be seen in the book, "How the Watch was Worn - A Fashion for 500 Years", on page 143.