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| D06-62. C. H. STOKES IN TRENTON . . . took the plump woman's resealed sixth plate with aplomb! Stokes directed his client to sit on an invisible chair and place one thick arm on his blue tinted tablecloth. She kept her gloves on her heavy hands to ward off the obviously chill in the gallery located at 37 East State St., with the entrance in 1854-55 noted in an advertisement as "being through William J. Owens' clothing store." (Thanks as always to John Craig for that daguerreian nugget of information). Stokes operated at that location through 1859 and possibly into the Civil War era. His matron presented to us in her revealing dag had a full moon shaped face with wide set eyes that watched his every move through tiny wire rimmed glasses. Her unadorned costume and plain pelerine might suggest that she was affiliated with the Quaker sect. That gay headpiece she wore is rather unusual. The woman's perfect plate has remarkable rainbow patina. The tonality, holographic depth and clarity are all at the pinnacle of the art. Okay, there IS one teeny white speck in the drop. Her broad cheeks were touched with red. The unusual design on the repaired leather case is interesting. $245 |
