Artisanal Plate Portraits
Each likeness is taken upon a hand-polished silver plate — one exposure, one sitting, never to be repeated.
The Daguerrean Manner · Est. 1845
The Likeness, Held Still.
Hand-polished silver plate portraits, taken once and preserved for generations, in the manner of the earliest masters — Boston, since 1845.
Our Services
The Studio's Arts
Three disciplines, one quiet purpose: the faithful preservation of the human likeness.
Archival Restoration
Faded plates and tarnished cases are coaxed back to their original silvery warmth by our conservators' patient hands.
Museum-Grade Cases
Every finished plate is seated behind gilt and glass within a velvet-lined case, built to outlast its maker.
The Process
From Sitting to Heirloom
Plate I
The Sitting
The patron is posed in stillness before the lens; a breath held, a count of seconds kept.
Plate II
The Plate
Silver is polished to a mirror, sensitized over iodine, and given to the light — once, and only once.
Plate III
The Case & Delivery
The finished plate is matted in gilt, cushioned in velvet, and delivered in a case fit for an heirloom.
Correspondence
Words from Our Patrons
"I scarcely recognised the likeness for its truth; the plate holds me as I was on one autumn afternoon, forever."
"The studio's patience and ceremony put me quite at ease; the plate they delivered is beyond all expectation of the art."
The Prospectus
Sittings & Commissions
The Cabinet Card
$180
- Quarter-plate sitting
- Gilt oval mat
- Velvet-lined case
The Full Plate
$420
- Full-plate daguerrean portrait
- Hand-polished silver plate
- Gilt mat & heirloom case
- Conservation consultation
The Imperial Plate
$950
- Imperial plate & group sittings
- On-site visits to patrons
- Restoration of one heirloom plate
Inquiries
Frequently Asked
What is a daguerrean-style portrait?
It is a likeness made upon a polished silver plate in the manner of the 1840s and 1850s — a single exposure, developed in mercury vapour, unique and unreproducible.
How long does a sitting take?
From pose to finished plate, plan on forty-five to ninety minutes, including preparation and a short rest between exposures. Stillness is the greater part of the art.
How should a plate be cared for?
Keep the case closed and away from damp and strong sun; touch the plate only by its edges, and let our conservators attend to any tarnish that may appear.
Est. 1845
Sit for the Plate.
Kindly leave your correspondence address; the studio shall write within two days to arrange a sitting.