Exceptional sixth plate ambrotype of a poised and elegantly dressed young African American woman, seated with one hand resting on a table and the other delicately holding a folded cloth or paper. Her direct gaze and calm expression are deeply engaging, framed by neatly parted and styled hair, hoop earrings, and a dark full-skirted dress with gathered sleeves and a high collar.

The image boasts excellent clarity and contrast, with rich tonal range and minimal degradation. Housed in a finely detailed oval brass mat and ornate gilt preserver, the piece is visually powerful and historically significant.

Portraits of African American women from the antebellum or early postbellum era are extremely scarce, particularly in this state of preservation and photographic quality. A rare and moving artifact of beauty, dignity, and resilience from 19th-century American portraiture.