Standing Boy with Powder Horn and Toy Sword

Dateca. 1855

MediumDaguerreotype

DimensionsPlate (sixth): 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 inches (8.26 × 6.99 cm)
Case (open): 3 11/16 × 6 7/16 × 3/8 inches (9.37 × 16.35 × 0.95 cm)
Case (closed): 3 11/16 × 3 3/16 × 5/8 inches (9.37 × 8.1 × 1.59 cm)

Credit LineGift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Object number2005.27.593

Signednone

Inscribednone

Markingsnone

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DescriptionImage of a standing child wearing a plaid garment, colored blue, with a small horn draped over the shoulder and a toy sword tucked into the belt. This sixth plate daguerreotype is housed in an oval brass mat inside of a case with an embossed red velvet liner in a case with a hovering bird variant motif.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Informed by the tradition of the amateur theatrical, Americans enjoyed playing with notions of identity and representation. It was common for subjects to pose for the camera in costume, as if assuming a dramatic role. Children, in particular, could be engaging subjects invoking feelings of patriotism, ethnic pride and entertaining role-play.

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