D06-185. MATRON ON A SOFA. Broad window lighting bathed the woman while she sat calmly on a handsome sofa during the procedure of making a resealed quarter plate daguerreotype. Noticing that her wedding band is worn on the middle finger of her right hand and prominently displayed probably speaks volumes of her recent hardships. Her very dark costume with that shawl regally covering just one shoulder suggests that she is in the second phase of mourning the loss of her husband. Wearing a conservative white lace collar and displaying hints of her under sleeves was permissible according to former dag collector and brilliant 19th century fashion expert Ralph Bova. The lady's face is creased and careworn. Could one of her adult children have coaxed her into visiting this unknown studio location? The misty mottled background is rather appropriate, don't you think? Outstanding depth, clarity and contrast leap from within the nice leather case with a large arrangement of flowers on both covers. An intricately embossed red velvet pad compliments the sitter. One green speck is on the sofa. The white dots are harmless. There are hints of patina inside the brass oval. $285