This is an antique mid 19th century daguerreotype photo frame.

I would estimate it dates circa 1840s or 1850s.

The overall frame measures 8 inches tall x 7 1/4 inches wide (20.3 cm x 18.4 cm). The back opening size measures 5 1/4 inches high x 4 1/2 inches wide (13.3 cm x 11.4 cm). The visual size within the eglomise glass measures 3 1/2 inches high x 2 3/4 inches wide (8.9 cm x 7 cm).

I did some preliminary research and found a few other frames like this with their original daguerreotypes in them. That is how I came to that conclusion.

I called this a half plate and a sixth plate because you have the option of using it with or without the glass. I think I’m right about that.

The glass is being held in with two of the original nails, so I did not take that off.

The frame is made of wood and is covered in applied decorative composition and paint.

There is a chipped off piece at the top along the sight edge and in the bottom left interior corner. The missing piece on top looks like someone colored it in black at some point. There is scratching and nicking to the surface of the purpleish painted part.

The glass has scratch marks going around it, though I’m not quite sure how that happened. It might have something to do with the pink color going around it.

The frame has its original brass hanging ring in the back. Just to the left of that someone wrote in very early writing, aged 77 or possibly 44.

This is a fairly rare frame and has a very early, old look to it.

It weighs 8 1/2 ounces (242 g).

It has what I always look for in frames, that wonderful old world look!