This is a lovely early daguerreotype (half plate) depicting a pretty young lady with slight hand-colouring to her cheeks and gold on her jewellery. She is wearing a fashionable gown of the era and long black lace mittens. Her jewellery includes a brooch at the throat, a guard chain possibly of cord, which passes below the waist holding a pencil and it is just possible to see part of a watch peeking out of a pocket in her skirt. The actual image is clear and crisp but there is a moderate edging of tarnish and the mat also has some spotting. The case has an attractive floral pattern on the front but the spine is not intact. The inside of the front of the case has a most attractive velvet lining with floral decoration. There does not appear to be a photographer’s mark. This is a lovely large image showing the fashion, jewellery and hairstyle of the era and it would grace any collection of early images.
Half plate. Case measures width 4.5 ins (11.5cm) x height 6 ins (15.2cm).
This image appears in my book, “How the Watch was Worn, A Fashion for 500 Years” on page 101.