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 402

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Seated Young Woman

Estimate: $200 - $300
Starting Bid
$100

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 young woman anchors this sixth plate daguerreotype in a pose that departs from studio convention, her right hand raised to rest against her cheek as she leans forward with a direct, unhurried gaze toward the lens. The daguerreotype dates to the 1840s or early 1850s based on the dress silhouette and case construction, and no photographer's imprint is visible on the image or its housing.

Her dress features a patterned bodice with a ruffled collar at the neck, full gathered sleeves tapering to the wrist, and a voluminous skirt with a dotted or embossed textile visible across the lap. She is seated in a wood slat-back chair, with a draped fabric visible at the right edge of the frame, and her dark hair is parted at the center and swept back close to the head.

The pose is notably informal for the period, the elbow resting forward and the weight of the figure angled toward the viewer rather than held erect, lending the portrait an intimate, unguarded quality rarely achieved in early studio work.

The leather case is embossed with a floral and scroll pattern on both exterior panels, with gold-tooled borders at the edges, and the interior mat is gilt brass with an oval opening and floral corner ornaments; the interior pad is red velvet. The image is a sixth plate.

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