Bidspirit auction | Mid-19th Century Sixth-Plate Daguerreotype Portrait

Mid-19th Century Sixth-Plate Daguerreotype Portrait of an Elderly Couple in a Leather Case - This sixth-plate daguerreotype features a formal studio portrait of an elderly man and woman seated side-by-side. The man is dressed in a dark high-collared coat with a matching cravat, while the woman is depicted in a dark dress with a white collar and a white lace day cap. The image is a unique photograph produced on a silver-plated copper sheet. The photograph is secured behind glass with a rectangular gilt brass mat and a decorative brass preserver. It is housed in a leather-covered wooden case with a red velvet-lined interior lid. No maker's marks, photographer's stamps, or signatures are visible on the image, mat, or case. Case Height: approximately 3.75 inches. The daguerreotype displays significant condition issues, most notably widespread white oxidation spotting, often referred to as measles, across much of the plate's surface. Minor tarnish is present along the edges of the mat. The leather-covered wooden case is heavily worn with significant losses to the leather exterior on both halves. The hinge is completely broken, leaving the lid and base detached. There is visible wear and material loss to the corners and edges of the wooden case structure.