Bidspirit auction | Identified Hand-Tinted American Sixth-Plate Firefighter

Identified Hand-Tinted American Sixth-Plate Firefighter Ambrotype - This sixth-plate ambrotype features an occupational portrait of an identified firefighter from Central Engine No. 3. The subject is captured in a bust-length pose wearing a traditional leather fire helmet. The helmet shield is clearly legible, featuring the word ENGINE in an arch above a large numeral 3, with the word CENTRAL inscribed below. He is dressed in a dark double-breasted coat worn over a vibrant red hand-tinted shirt and a large black silk cravat. The image is housed in an oval brass mat within a decorative brass preserver. The assembly is set into a tooled leather-covered wooden case with a velvet-lined interior featuring a raised floral and scrollwork motif. The exterior of the case is decorated with a stamped floral design within a central cartouche. Case: 3.75 inches H x 3.25 inches W. The image is in very good condition with sharp focus and minimal surface dust. The hand-tinting on the shirt and cheeks remains bright and well-preserved. The case exhibits moderate wear, with noticeable chipping and loss of the black outer covering at all four corners and along the edges, revealing the wooden structure underneath. The interior velvet lining shows light surface wear and minor fading. The brass mat and preserver show a light, even patina with localized areas of tarnish. The original clasp and hinge remain functional.