A family of five crowds into a tight sixth plate daguerreotype, likely made in the early-to-mid 1850s based on the oval brass mat, gold-textured paper mat surround, and clothing details visible in the image. Two adults anchor the composition at center and rear, with three children arranged in front and to the sides. No photographer's imprint is present anywhere on the piece.

The woman at left wears a dark dress with a white flat collar and her hair is parted and pulled back; the man behind center wears a dark coat and bow tie. A toddler in a white Peter Pan-collared garment stands or sits at center, a younger child with dark curls appears at lower left, and a third child leans in from the right. All five subjects face the camera directly.

The leather case features an embossed foliate pattern on the exterior and retains its original salmon-colored silk pad on the interior lid opposite the image.

The photographer is unidentified and no inscription is present. The image is housed in a sixth plate leather case with an oval brass mat and gold-textured paper mat.