Sixth-plate daguerreotype portrait of an unidentified young girl, seated and facing the camera with hands folded in her lap. The image is a direct-positive daguerreotype on a silvered copper plate, housed in a period hinged case. The sitter’s center-parted hair, simple patterned dress, and the use of a studio chair place the photograph in the mid-19th century, likely circa the 1850s, consistent with daguerreotype practice and children’s portrait conventions of the period. No photographer’s imprint or identifying text is visible on the plate or case.

The background is a so-called “magic” or halo background, created through studio lighting and plate preparation rather than post-production manipulation. This effect appears as a luminous, softly contoured field surrounding the sitter, often achieved by controlling reflections on the polished silver surface or by subtle shading of the backdrop. Such backgrounds were used by daguerreotypists to visually separate the sitter from the ground and to introduce a sense of depth and emphasis, particularly in portraits of children, where stillness and compositional clarity were essential.

The daguerreotype is presented in a brown leatherette case with an embossed floral design on the exterior and a red textile pad on the opposing interior panel. The plate is set behind a gilt brass mat with a decorative scalloped opening, a presentation style commonly associated with higher-end studio work of the period. No inscriptions or handwritten notes are present on the visible surfaces.