Ambrotype plate tintype studio portrait of a young man posed standing beside a small table draped with a patterned cloth. He wears a distinctive Zouave uniform consisting of a short open jacket with decorative trim, a fitted vest, loose trousers, and a fez-style cap. His stance is formal, with one hand resting on the table, and the plain studio backdrop emphasizes the uniform rather than any setting. The image is housed in a period hinged case with a gilt brass mat; no photographer’s imprint is visible.

Zouaves were military units inspired by French North African light infantry, first adopted in the United States in the 1850s and widely popular during the Civil War. Their uniforms, characterized by exotic styling, bright colors in life, and non-standard military dress, were intended to convey elite status and martial flair. Zouave units existed in both Union and Confederate forces, and similar uniforms were also worn by militia and postwar drill companies, making the image representative of mid-19th-century military fashion rather than a specific regiment.

The ambrotype remains presented in its original case with an embossed leather exterior and a decorative gilt mat with a scalloped opening. No inscriptions, names, or identifying text are present.