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 385

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Young Girl with Cat

Estimate: $400 - $600
Starting Bid
$200

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 unidentified girl stands at center in this sixth plate daguerreotype, her right hand resting on the edge of a small ornate cast-iron table while a large tuxedo cat lounges atop it beside her. The image dates to the 1850s based on the case style, mat design, and the child's dress, and was made by an unidentified photographer. Portraits pairing children with live animals required considerable patience from both subject and operator, and surviving examples with cats remain notably scarce.

The girl wears a short-sleeved white dress with multiple horizontal tiers at the skirt and a ribbon bow in her dark hair. Her expression is direct and wide-eyed, facing the camera with both arms slightly extended. The black-and-white cat holds a loaf position on the table surface, ears upright and gaze turned slightly to the side, while the table base below displays a scrolling foliate cast pattern.

The daguerreotype is housed in a leather case with an embossed floral and scrollwork cover design on both front and back panels, gold-tooled borders, and a brass clasp. The interior mat is gilt with a beaded edge framing a shaped cartouche opening. No photographer's imprint is visible on the case interior or exterior.

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