American School, 19th Century Half-plate Daguerreotype Portrait of Eli Westcott Bailey (1809-1899)

Description:

American School, 19th Century

Half-plate Daguerreotype Portrait of Eli Westcott Bailey (1809-1899), in an embossed leather case, mid to late 1840s.
Condition: Minor tarnish, accretion on subject's right lapel and two small accretions at c.r. of the plate, cover detached, case with extensive insect damage.

Provenance: By family descent to the current owner.

N.B. While inscriptions on the case and an accompanying piece of paper attribute this daguerreotype to Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, it was more likely made in an American studio. Eli Westcott Bailey worked as a silversmith and jeweler in New York from c. 1830 to 1848 when he joined his brother Joseph Trowbridge Bailey in Philadelphia to form Bailey & Company (formerly Bailey & Kitchen and later Bailey, Banks & Biddle) with two additional partners. The firm, which manufactured silverware and jewelry, was located on Chestnut Street, the heart of Philadelphia's very active daguerreotype production. Within a block of Bailey & Co. at 136 Chestnut Street, there were at least five daguerreotype businesses, including Samuel Broadbent's daguerreotype studio Broadbent & Co. in the same building and Marcus Aurelius Root's studio, which was located two doors down.
Estimate $500-700


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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