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 398

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Unidentified Girl with Flowers

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 young girl stands at full length against a dark studio backdrop in this sixth plate daguerreotype, likely made in the early to mid 1850s based on the dress style and mat format. The image is seated in a gold-embossed mat with an octagonal opening and housed in a leather case with embossed scrollwork and floral motifs on the exterior cover. The interior liner is green silk on the opposite leaf and red velvet bordering the mat side, with a brass clasp closure. No photographer's imprint is visible.

The girl wears a full-skirted plaid dress with a wide flat collar, short sleeves trimmed at the cuffs, and a crossover bodice treatment that creates a lattice effect across the chest. Her dark curly hair is parted at the center and falls loosely at the sides. She holds a small bouquet of flowers in her right hand, and applied tinting gives the blooms visible pink and white color against the otherwise monochrome image.

Hand-applied color on a daguerreotype, particularly to floral props, was a common studio enhancement through the 1850s and required a skilled colorist working with dry pigments directly on the silver surface. The full-length standing pose with a floral prop was a popular compositional choice for children's portraits during this period, lending the image a formality typical of mid-nineteenth century American studio practice.

No inscription or photographer's marking is present on the mat or case interior.

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