Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Spring Photographic History Auction

Sat, May 3, 2025 01:00PM EDT
Lot 142

Daguerreotype of a Child with Basket and Apron

Estimate: $100 - $200

Bid Increments

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Charming and direct ninth plate daguerreotype of a young girl standing in full view, holding a small woven basket and dressed in a dark bodice with a contrasting white apron and skirt. The child wears a red-tinted beaded necklace and appears to be just barely standing still, her expression stern and slightly bewildered — a common result of the long exposures required in early photography.

The image is well-preserved with good contrast and detail, particularly in the child’s facial features and the hand-colored accents. The basket, held in her right hand, adds a lovely domestic touch and subtly underscores her early involvement in household or chore-related activity, a reflection of mid-19th-century values and childhood roles.

A poignant and beautifully posed early portrait capturing both innocence and responsibility in one frame.

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