Attributed to Albert Sands Southworth (1811-1894) and Josiah Johnson Hawes (1808-1901)

quarter-plate daguerreotype, cased, circa 1853

Acquired from Joseph Buberger, New Haven, early 1980s

Stanley B. Burns, Mirror Mirror: The Burns Collection Daguerreotypes (New York: The Burns Archive Press, 2012), pl. 11

Stanley B. Burns, Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America (Altadena, 1990), pl. 11

This postmortem study delivers unusually fine detail of its young sitter. The intricate lace pattern on the sitter's bodice is remarkable and visible when examining the plate closely. The daguerreotype is significantly more luminous when examined in person than as reproduced in the catalogue illustration. There is a thin border of tarnish following the contour of the mat, primarily along the left and right edges which are also slightly warm-toned. With the aid of magnification, a very faint, semi-transparent milky area is visible over the sitter's head. The case is intact, but rubbed at the edges and one of the hooks is lacking.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.