- Mat Style
- Lack of Preserver
- Children's Style
- Case
This charming daguerreotype is one of my favorites. Not only because of the children's poses and looks, but the complete daguerreotype and plate present some great evidence as to its date.
The first noticeable characteristic is the brass mat over the image. This mat hid the unattractive edges and kept the cover glass from touching the image, thus protecting the fragile image from damage casused by friction with the glass.
This mat style, called elliptical or single elliptical, came into use in the mid-1840s. The heavy, pebble-like textured construction is typical of early mats, as they became much smoother or finely textured by the end of the decade.
This image did not include a preserver, which was introduced about 1848. The preserver was a brass 'wrapper' that wrapped around the edges of the assembled plate, mat and glass. It is possible the preserver was broken and removed at some time, as the inside edges of the case do show evidence of a preserver impression.
The children's clothes were very stylish in the mid and late 1840s. Her hair reflects the conservative pulled-back style of the era.
Plate Hallmark
We are fortunate to have extra clues from the daguerreotype plate itself.
The plate includes a 'hallmark', a stamped impression along the edge of the plate that identifies the manufacturer. These hallmarks have been cataloged and provide a general timeframe of when it was available.