Sixth plate daguerreotype studio portrait of a young girl seated in a chair, captured mid-gesture with her thumb raised to her mouth. She wears a patterned dress with short sleeves and a full skirt, her hair parted and drawn back, consistent with mid-19th-century children’s fashion. The informal pose and visible motion contrast with the typically rigid conventions of daguerreian portraiture, making the image notably candid. The daguerreotype is housed in a period hinged case with a gilt brass oval mat and deep red velvet lining. No photographer’s imprint is visible.

Images of children engaged in spontaneous or habitual gestures, such as thumb-sucking, are uncommon in early daguerreotypes due to long exposure times and studio expectations of stillness. When they occur, such portraits often reflect the photographer’s willingness to accommodate natural behavior or the family’s desire to record a truthful likeness rather than an idealized pose.

The daguerreotype remains housed in its original case with an embossed leather exterior featuring a bird and grapevine motif. The mat shows a beaded oval opening, and the interior velvet pad retains its original color and texture. No handwritten inscriptions or identifications are present.