Quarter plate ambrotype portrait of an unidentified young woman, photographed in a studio setting and presented in an oval brass mat. The subject is shown standing and posed with one arm resting on a support, dressed in an off-the-shoulder dress with wide sleeves. She wears a necklace with a small cross pendant, along with a bracelet and ring, all clearly visible and integral to the composition. The photographic process is ambrotype on glass, consistent with mid-19th-century studio portraiture. The work is by William Shew of San Francisco, as stamped on the mat.

The image reflects the refined studio style associated with San Francisco photography in the 1850s and early 1860s, emphasizing calm presence, fashionable dress, and careful arrangement of pose and accessories. The sitter’s direct gaze and composed posture suggest a formal portrait intended to convey respectability and personal identity. Jewelry and hairstyle are presented prominently, reinforcing contemporary ideals of femininity and social presentation in the period.

The ambrotype is housed in a full case with a richly gilt brass mat featuring an oval opening and decorative foliate border. The overall presentation is characteristic of professional West Coast studio work and aligns with the known output and aesthetic of William Shew’s San Francisco practice.