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 393

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Young Girl with Flutina

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
A young girl stands as the full-length subject of this sixth plate daguerreotype, likely produced in the early-to-mid 1850s based on the dress silhouette and studio furnishings visible in the frame. The process is daguerreotype, housed in a leather case embossed with a central eagle-and-grapevine motif surrounded by dense foliate scrollwork. No photographer's imprint is visible. The subject is unidentified.

The girl wears a dark bodice over a light patterned skirt with decorative trim at the hem, a large white bow at her collar, and lace-trimmed sleeves. White stockings and dark ankle-strap shoes complete the outfit. She holds a small flutina — an early bellows-driven free-reed instrument — clasped across her midsection, and a studio prop table to her left displays a row of decorative knobs consistent with period portrait furniture.

The flutina was a precursor to the concertina and accordion family, popular in Europe and America during the 1840s and 1850s, making its appearance here a rare and specific detail for a child's portrait of this period. Its inclusion suggests the instrument held personal or musical significance for the subject or her family.

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