A remarkably well-preserved and finely composed half-plate daguerreotype portrait of a seated woman, handsomely dressed in mid-19th century attire, wearing a richly toned dark silk dress and white lace collar. Her hair is elaborately coiffed in period fashion, and she wears a long chain around her neck suspending a small cross-shaped pendant – possibly indicating religious affiliation or personal faith.

She is posed beside a draped table topped with several stacked books, an iconographic detail often used to convey literacy, refinement, or intellectual engagement, particularly in portraits of women during the antebellum period. The image exhibits crisp clarity and superb lighting, with faint but effective hand-tinting to the cheeks, bringing lifelike warmth to the sitter’s expression. Her right hand rests gently on her lap, holding what may be a fabric purse or folded lacework.

Housed in its original richly embossed, leather-covered case with highly ornate gilt tooled front board – an unusually elegant example of mid-century American case design. The gilt is still bright, with only minor edge wear and rubbing to extremities. The interior features a fine original brass mat and preserver, with a velvet pad on the opposite side.

The careful, confident posing, accessories, and excellent execution strongly suggest this was made in a prominent Eastern studio, likely New York or Boston. The portrait's depth, lighting, and thoughtful arrangement of symbolic props reflect a practiced and artistic operator.