Quarter over Matted

THE SOFT FOCUS . . . On the subject’s over matted re-cleaned and archivally sealed quarter plate was intentionally done in the 5 ½ Tremont Row studio operated by the Boston masters Southworth & Hawes. Their more bang for the buck presentation was placed in the classic black leather push button case. This is an outstanding example showing one type of likeness the firm was capable of producing! There are many similar plates reproduced in the book Young America The Daguerreotypes of S & H! Oddly, there are a few places where threads of dust were trapped underneath the layer of gold chloride making marks on the silver. Since the plate arrived here after being poorly handled there are also mat abrasions. Never the less this is a magnificent daguerreotype presenting an unknown patron of the highest form of daguerreotypy!