Quarter plate hand-gilt ambrotype studio portrait of a militaman ca. 1855-1860. Full leatherette case with floral motif.

A striking ambrotype portrait of a militiaman, probably from Massachusetts or New York. He steadies his gaze upon the photographer's lens, staring out from beneath his extravagantly plumed bicorn hat. In one hand, he brandishes one of the many varieties of militia swords that were popular throughout the period, and in the other holds a scroll, perhaps a commission. His uniform bears staff three-piece buttons, epaulets, a stand-up collar, and a plastron down the front. His uniform is completed by a two-piece tongue & wreath interlocking-type belt plate, popular with militia units in antebellum America. Details of his uniform, sword, and belt plate have been expertly hand-gilt by the attentive photographer. 

An excellent pre-war military portrait.

[Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards] [Militia, Militaria]