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 404

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Two Unidentified Women

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
Two unidentified women, believed to be sisters, are portrayed in this sixth plate daguerreotype dating to the 1850s based on the silhouette of the elder subject's dress and the styling of both sitters' hair. Both wear dark silk dresses with long fitted sleeves, and the closely matched fashions reinforce the identification of the pair as sisters. The photographer's imprint is not visible on the case or mat, and the maker remains unidentified.

The standing woman wears a ruffled white lace collar secured at the throat with a small brooch, her dark hair arranged in large flat coils above each ear. The seated younger woman displays a wide crocheted lace collar spread across her shoulders, also pinned at center with a small ornament, her hair center-parted and drawn back into coils. The two lean close together, the elder resting her hand near the younger's arm, in a pose conveying familiarity.

Both dresses feature the characteristic dropped shoulders and slightly full skirts of mid-1850s fashion, with the standing figure's dress showing pronounced horizontal banding at the bodice consistent with a tightly boned corset beneath. The leather case has an embossed cover centered on a cartouche enclosing a domed architectural motif surrounded by scrollwork and floral decoration, with gilt-edged borders on all sides.

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