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| D4-1. NEW YEAR'S DAY DELIGHT. Although I was near the front of the line January 1, 1994 the magnificent daguerreotype I am about to describe had already been purchased by a dealer during their set up time. The purchaser chided me for never taking a space and teased me by holding the black whole leather case with four corner adornments on the cover and a plain reverse in her hands. Most dags don't cause me to salivate, but I knew my tormentor's tastes in dags and all the other antiques she bought and sold, so I was quite confident the archivally sealed sixth plate was very special. She finally handed me the dag when another client approached her to inquire about "an important antique", as she was turning away from me. I had the piece all to myself and walked over to a corner near a window. Little did I know just how spectacular the man inside, opposite a bright green silk pad and held by a green velvet liner, really was. I actually remember gasping as I placed the light over my shoulder and angled the portrait into my dark jacket. The gentleman was remarkable, but the real power in my quivering hands was the technical presentation. The light lit the fellow from ABOVE and ALMOST BEHIND his head. Draped entirely around the camera and very close to the subject was a bright white reflector cloth. If that wasn't daring enough for a brilliant presentation taken circa late 1843, what about the intentional soft focus? The total effort was years ahead of what only the very best makers were capable of producing by 1850. Original oxidation follows the rectangular shape of the paper mat covered with gold leaf. The brown UFO is a naturally occurring ovoid! Reading my notes on the Filmoplast is instructive. The medium weight plate had square corners and flat sides, cut down slightly smaller than the standard 2.75 x 3.25 inches. There was no hallmark. I used the original glass and gold rectangular paper mat during the restoration. A very rare and desirable masterpiece magnificently made at the beginning of the early period of daguerreotypy! $8,000 |
