A haunting and tender English quarter plate daguerreotype capturing a post-mortem portrait of a baby laid to rest beneath a richly patterned blanket, with its delicate face framed by a finely detailed lace bonnet. The child is reclined peacefully against embroidered pillows, surrounded by soft, domestic textures and the quiet dignity of the mourning tableau. Subtle hand-tinting brings warmth to the infant’s cheeks and clarity to the vibrant fabrics, enhancing the emotional impact of the composition.

This rare example is housed in its original English-style case, notable for its tooled leather cover and contrasting bright gold mat, with an interior lined in plush deep red velvet and accented with decorative metal edging. The condition of the image remains strong, with a fine reflective surface, good contrast, and well-preserved detail throughout, aside from some typical mat tarnish.

Post-mortem daguerreotypes of infants were deeply personal memorial objects in the Victorian era, created with reverence and care. English examples, particularly with artistic backdrops and such high attention to textile detail, are increasingly scarce. A poignant and historically important piece for collectors of mourning photography, early British daguerreotypes, or 19th-century funerary portraiture.