Sixth-plate portrait daguerreotype. N.p., ca. mid-1850s. Housed in a dark brown thermoplastic union case featuring a raised floral medallion against a stippled field with scrolled acanthus spandrels (Berg 3-214).

An extraordinary, self-referential occupational portrait capturing a working daguerreian artist seated (presumably) alongside his wife, proudly presenting the chemical badge of his profession. Posed half-length side-by-side, the bearded photographer wears a dark frock coat over a white shirt and voluminous dark cravat. Held prominently forward in his left hand is a clear glass apothecary bottle with an elongated neck and paper label, containing "hypo" (hyposulfite of soda), the indispensable chemical fixing agent used to clear unexposed silver halides and permanently secure daguerreian and paper images. His wife sits beside him in an open-collared plaid silk dress with white collar and pinned hair, resting her hands gently across her lap.

Occupational portraits depicting early photographers themselves rank among the most desirable and elusive subgenres in 19th-century photography. This is the only portrait showing an operator with the chemical alchemy of the medium we are aware of. 

[Daguerreotype, Sixth Plate, Occupational, Photographer, Daguerreotypist, Early Photography, Hypo, Sodium Thiosulfate, Chemical Bottle, Apothecary Bottle, Plaid Dress, Husband and Wife, Thermoplastic Case, Union Case, Cased Image, 1850s Photography, Vernacular Portraiture]

Fair to good condition. The plate exhibits fine clarity and smooth tones. We note scattered surface wear, including fine surface wipe marks and moderate veil-like haze across the plate field.