Ninth Plate

A CLEVER COLLAR. Granny was still stylin’ as she sat steady for a ninth sized resealed daguerreotype kept in a leather case with a very weak hinge. I’m not certain what type of sewing was done to created those dark accent marks on the woman’s white fabric around her neck, but they were certainly noticeable as was her choice of a dress with Bishop’s sleeves that wasn’t really fashionable after 1839, although admittedly, I have seen similar dress designs worn by women of all ages during the entire daguerreian era. The man who made the portrait achieved exceptional contrast and sharp focus on his patron, who saw her world through the lenses of those wire rimmed glasses. Layers of patina dull the surface in places, yet I suspect the piece hadn’t been altered previously. The condition is excellent and highly reflective.