We seldom see a triad pose, such as this one, in daguerreotypes and ambrotypes of African Americans. The standing man has his arms around each of the seated men. Each seated man holds a hat on their lap. All three wear gold gilded pendants. There's a lot to study here from their hairstyles to their attire.

RELIEVO AMBROTYPE. With relievo ambrotypes, only the objects or subjects had emulsion. Everything else was removed.

DATE. Ambrotypes in the United States were made from 1854 - 1863. This is a pre-Civil War image.

SIZE. Quarter plate.

HOUSING. This came to us in an early daguerreotype half case which is very worn. We have 'married' it to an appropriate thermoplastic Union case, contemporary to the time in which this image was made.

CONDITION. Some spots in the sky area. A light spot on the face of the standing man.

APPEARANCE. Fabulous posing and composition. A very handsome portrait.