Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Date
1855-1870
Medium
collodion and silver on glass photographic plates in velvet, pasteboard, leather, and metal case
Dimensions
H x W (Image in frame): 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (8.3 × 7 cm)
H x W x D (case open): 3 7/8 × 9 × 13/16 in. (9.8 × 22.9 × 2.1 cm)
H x W x D (case closed): 3 7/8 × 3 5/8 × 1 1/8 in. (9.8 × 9.2 × 2.9 cm)
Description
An ambrotype in a double case of an unidentified elderly woman. The woman is seated and facing directly at the camera. She wears a dark colored shawl over a plaid dress and has a cap with a lace-trimmed edge on her head that ties at the front neck. Her hands are crossed and resting in her lap. Her lips are tinted a light pink and her dress has a light blue tint. The image is in a gilt frame that is set loosely (not adhered or otherwise attached) into the front section of a double case, with the back side of the case empty. The image is backed by a piece of card board with no writing that is tucked into the back edges of the gilt frame. The case is lined in red leather with a gold scrollwork border design. A rectangular red velvet pillow with an embossed floral design is adhered to the front cover and back cover of the case to protect the images housed in the central frame, which is thick enough to hold two glass plate images, with the edges finished in gilded paper. The outside of the case is covered in blue velvet with four (4) metal decorative floral pieces nailed to the front cover, one in each corner. The right side of the case folds over partially onto the front of the case and there is a metal clasp at the center front to close it. There are no decorative elements on the back of the case beyond the velvet covering.
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
ambrotypes
portraits
Topic
Photography
U.S. History, 1815-1861
U.S. History, 1865-1921
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Object number
2016.166.39
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59c58765d-296c-4c5c-8a2d-af7aa2f0c61e

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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