Rare 1/6 Plate Daguerreotype of a Young Mulatto Girl 

Description

Rare 1/6 Plate Daguerreotype of a Young Mulatto Girl 

 

Striking and deeply evocative 1/6 plate daguerreotype portrait depicting a young mixed-race girl seated before the camera in a boldly patterned checked dress, her direct gaze lending the image an exceptional presence. Housed in a period leatherette case with gilt brass mat and preserver, the image displays the luminous, mirror-like quality so prized in early daguerreian photography. 

 

Portraits of African American and mixed-race sitters from the daguerreotype era remain among the rarest and most sought-after forms of 19th century photography, particularly examples executed with this level of clarity and dignity. The sitter is presented with remarkable care and individuality, her formal pose and finely detailed attire speaking to both the artistry of the photographer and the importance of the image to the family who commissioned it. 

 

The composition possesses an arresting honesty characteristic of the 1850s–early 1860s daguerreian period, with crisp rendering to the facial features, hands, and patterned textile. The untouched surface exhibits scattered light age-related tarnish and minor mat abrasions consistent with authentic early daguerreotypes. Housed in its original leatherette case retaining attractive age and patina. 

 

An exceptionally scarce and historically important American image representing an underrepresented subject within early photography, combining strong visual impact with significant social and cultural resonance. 

 

Inventory Number: HAR 259