Sixth Plate

MAKER UNKNOWN! The heavy brass mat with a rectangular opening that was used to frame Mrs. Pierpont (please see second scan for bountiful information) and her intact leather case, with pebbled surfaces and a simple rectangle near the outer edges on the cover were of the styles used by Albert Southworth beginning in late 1842. When Josiah Hawes joined the partnership, the usage of these two components continued until about 1845. This archivally restored, electroplated and lightly re-cleaned sixth plate was over matted. The interior dimensions were 3 1/4 by 3 3/4 inches. I believe the firm began adding additional silver their plates sometime in late 1843. Even with all this knowledge, I cannot conclusively say that they were responsible for this beautiful woman’s sensitive and extremely elegant likeness. The visible portion of that chair and the out of focus table cover don’t provide enough information to make a conclusive connection. The name Piermont was synonymous with wealth and fame. Elizabeth might have been born wealthy and moved on up higher into society when she married William II. Her watermarked silk dress was extremely lovely and that cap with tassels was very fashionable for a well-off woman in the mid-1840s. I would suggest that she was taken circa late 1844 into 1845 by a daguerreotypist who already had reached the pinnacle of his craft. The heavy piece had narrow clipped corners and flat sides with a very rare ?E. White * (star) 40? hallmark. On the technical side of the equation the skillfully polished silver displays superb contrast and tonality. Extremely accurate focus on Mrs. Pierpont?s figure revealed stunning brown eyes, a freckled complexion and narrow lips formed in a soft smile. Even the individual strands of her glossy dark hair were visible. The illumination that entered the studio came from high above the lady on the left. Her shaded features were well balanced by a huge white reflector unseen off to the right. The artistry of her pose rates an A+ and coupled with holographic depth permits us to almost look around the subject.