Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Sat, Sep 19, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-09-19 11:00:00 2026-09-19 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/september-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-24380
Our September 2026 auction is anchored by two remarkable private collections, together making up about half the sale, alongside a broader selection of consignments spanning early photography, Civil War material, and vernacular imagery. The Soffer Collection, built with an eye for rarity and historical significance, is particularly strong in vernacular portraiture, Native American photographs, and Iowa Civil War imagery. The Palmer, Massachusetts collection, much of it found at Brimfield, centers on maker-marked daguerreotypes from the golden age of the American daguerreian studio.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 400

Quarter Plate Daguerreotype, Woman and Girl with Jump Rope

Estimate: $300 - $500
Starting Bid
$150

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
A woman and young girl pose together in this sixth plate daguerreotype, seated closely in a studio setting that dates stylistically to the early-to-mid 1850s. The plate is hand-colored, with applied pink at the woman's neck ribbon and blue on the draped fabric beside the girl, indicating the work of a skilled colorist. No photographer's imprint is visible, and the subjects remain unidentified.

The woman wears a dark dress with a shawl and an indoor cap with curled ringlets framing her face, her arms folded loosely as she holds a length of jump rope in her hands. The girl beside her rests her arm across the woman's shoulder and holds the rope's handle in her raised fist, while a stack of books sits beneath her elbow on what appears to be a draped posing table. The girl wears a dark textured dress with a white ruffled collar, her expression direct and serious.

The jump rope as a portrait prop is uncommonly encountered in daguerreian studio work, making this a notable example of mid-nineteenth century American childhood portraiture. The leather case features embossed scrollwork on the exterior and a crimson silk padded interior with an ornate pressed decorative panel opposite the image.

The case carries no maker's mark, and no inscriptions are present on the plate or mount.

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