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 407

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
An unidentified elderly couple is preserved in a matched pair of sixth plate daguerreotypes housed in a single double-sided hinged leather case, almost certainly produced as a companion set in the 1850s. The man sits in three-quarter view wearing a dark frock coat, patterned waistcoat, and cravat with a white shirt collar visible beneath, his large hands folded and resting across his lap. The woman occupies the facing panel, seated in a wood slat chair in a full dark dress with long fitted sleeves, a white lace cap tied at the chin, and a white lace collar at the throat.

Both subjects are rendered with strong facial definition and direct, unsmiling expressions typical of mid-century daguerreian portraiture. The man's heavy brow, short cropped gray hair, and close-trimmed beard give him a commanding presence, while the woman's posture is upright with one arm resting along the chair rail. Each image sits behind a beaded oval gilt mat set within an embossed brass preserver decorated with foliate and floral motifs, the crimson velvet surround intact on both sides.

The exterior of the double case shows embossed scrollwork and cartouche panels across both covers, consistent with leather cases produced during the peak daguerreian period. The paired format, matching mats, and unified case construction indicate these portraits were made together as a husband and wife set. No photographer's imprint is visible on either panel. The subjects remain unidentified.

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