Quarter Plate

THE CURIOUS ONES. While the crisply focused subjects in the center of this retaped quarter plate horizontal composition keenly watched the daguerreotypist the girls that flanked them only had eyes for someone else towards the left side of the camera. It was unusual to see four maidens seated next to each other with three of them linked together holding hands. The other young woman did reach around her nearest companion. The foursome was taken in a studio equipped with a skylight. The falloff in sharpness was quite odd. I am amazed that the daguerreotype was acceptable to the maker?s patrons. There are very faint wipes on the surface and some mat marks along with mold mites. Applied colors remain visible. The complete leather case has a faded and moisture spotted red silk pad inside.