GALLERY

This daguerreotype came to us identified as the 'Lord Mansion' in Kennebunk, Maine. We believe this to be the Captain Nathaniel Lord Mansion, which is distinct from the 'Lord Mansion,' although both are in Kennebunk.

We know this is the 1840s because of the case design, and because of the right angles of the pebbled brass mat.

We use the word 'RARE' in describing it because outdoor scene daguerreotypes from the 1840s are few and far between.

You'll see that the building depicted matches well with modern pictures of the same property. The windows and cupola are still the same. We suggest that modifications were made to the doorway in the ensuing years.

It's fascinating that the rocking horse was put front and center in this view. Two women anchor it, a girl is on one side, and a boy is on the other. At left, there is a girl with a bonnet and a horse pulling a wagon of people. The sky is fortuitously blue due to solarization. (Overexposed white areas in daguerreotypes often turn blue.)

"The Captain Nathaniel Lord Mansion is a historic house at 6 Pleasant Street in the village center of Kennebunkport, Maine. Built in 1812 by a wealthy shipowner, it is a fine example of Federal period architecture, which remained in the same family until 1972. It is now a bed and breakfast called The Captain Lord Mansion, Inn & Spa. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Lord Mansion is set at the northeast corner of Pleasant and Green Streets, both residential streets in the town's main village. It is a stately three-story wood-frame structure, rising to a flat roof topped by a cupola. Its main facade is five bays wide, with a center entrance flanked by sidelight windows and sheltered by a hip-roof portico. Windows are six-over-six sash on the first two floors, except for a central three-part window above the entrance, and smaller three-over-three windows on the third level. Oriel and oval windows are found above the secondary entrance on the right side facade. The interior of the house has been extensively restored, retaining most of its Federal period woodwork, and also some early wallpaper. Of particular note is the freestanding elliptical staircase. A three-story addition was added to the rear of the main block in 1859. The town of Kennebunkport was an important shipping and shipbuilding center in the early 19th century, and those industries were virtually shutdown by a British blockade during the War of 1812. Nathaniel Lord, a local shipbuilder, used his workers to build this house and its associated barn in that year. The house was passed from one generation to the next through a continuous female line, resulting in the house having many different names over the years. It was sold by the last Lord descendant to own it in 1972, and has since been converted into a bed and breakfast inn." (source: Wikipedia)

SIZE. Quarter plate.

HOUSING. Case has wear and a retaped spine. The back is upside down.

CONDITION. Resealed in 2020 (not by us). Scratches at left edge most of the way up. Tiny white spots all over, but they are not a distraction. When tilted, heavy horizontal buff marks can be seen at the bottom, and the area appears whitish.

APPEARANCE. Bright image. Fabulous composition. Great content.