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| D05-197. SHEETS OF MELODY. If you turn their quarter plate to a negative angle, musical notes are seen on the folded paper that the young gal on the left is grasping. Her companion's pieces are more difficult to read. Could they have been musicians or singers? It is unlikely that a daguerreian happened to have his favorite songs that he handed to his subjects to hold, isn't it? If the women aren't sisters they certainly must have been best friends. They both wore identical dresses and combed their hair in a similar manner, using dark velvet ribbons as accents. Their earrings are quite different though and the lady on the right wore at least one visible ring. Certainly siblings could have different eye colors too. The sitter on the left probably was holding her breath while the resealed remembrance was made. Her counterpart appears much more relaxed and possibly familiar with the maker. There is one obvious mold spider in the background and a couple others less noticeable in the lovely patina surrounding the pair. Two brown spots are visible on one woman's dress and another touches the right side of her head. There is great contrast and nice reflected depth. The cover of the mother of pearl case (presenting a floral theme) is detached and the latch is missing. The case compartment has a plain black back and is intact. Written under the girls on the bottom paper is: "G.E. Batchelder Hampton June 16th 1856 - 1856 11 and four unreadable letters". $685 |
