Bidspirit auction | Nineteenth Century Quarter Plate Daguerreotype

Nineteenth Century Quarter Plate Daguerreotype of a Couple in Embossed Case - This nineteenth century quarter plate daguerreotype features a formal double portrait of a man and a woman. The image is housed in a hinged, dark-toned case with an intricate embossed design on both the front and back covers, centered with a scrollwork cartouche against a textured background. The interior lid is lined with a red velvet pad featuring a pressed floral motif. The image plate is secured behind a protective glass pane and framed by a decoratively shaped brass mat with a beaded edge and a thin brass preserver. The subjects are posed formally; the man wears a dark frock coat, a light-colored vest, and a wide necktie, while the woman is dressed in a dark, high-collared bodice with a decorative bow. The image exhibits characteristic mirrored silvering along the edges. The case measures approximately 3 3/4 inches by 3 1/4 inches. The case hinge is completely broken, and the two halves of the case are detached. The exterior shows light wear to the corners and edges. The interior velvet lining is faded and worn. The brass mat and preserver show minor surface oxidation and tarnishing. The daguerreotype plate itself has significant silvering/oxidation around the perimeter of the oval window, consistent with its age, along with some minor surface dust and debris under the glass. No other visible faults.