Rare 1840s 1/4 Daguerreotype Musician Holding Flute or Sword ? - Possibly Texas for Sale

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Rare 1840s 1/4 Daguerreotype Musician Holding Flute or Sword ? - Possibly Texas For Sale

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Rare 1840s 1/4 Daguerreotype Musician Holding Flute or Sword ? - Possibly Texas:
$1325.00

Quarter-plate, late-1840s daguerreotype of a well-dressed man holding what appears to be a flute - note that it extends beyond his hand and down into the bottom-right corner of the mat. In his other hand he's holding a mystery object - it appears to be box/rectangular shaped with ridges and an opening, which his finger is stuck in! Another collector suggested this was a spyglass with lens cap. I don't know.. I suppose that's a possibility? Somebody else suggested a samurai sword! He's wearing some sort of silver jewelry or medals on his vest - the photographer did not paint them but used pin pricks made directly on the plate to give them silver looking highlights.

The dag is in excellent antique condition behind glass and mat. It has a tarnish ring and a lot of tiny scattered mold spiders and probably dust mixed in there as well, but I see no damage. I'm unsure whether it is sealed or not, or if there is an ID or anything else behind it, because the dag sits very tight in the case.. when I tried removing it I heard a lot of creaking in the case joints and the liner was very stiff.. so I just gave up before risking damage.

This was purchased from a seller in Texas who bought it locally, so it was possibly taken around there or the Southwest. The leather case is in nice condition with separated covers. The dag is clear and sharp with nice contrast.

Boxed & signed Priority Mail.