I believe this is a tintype rather than an ambrotype, behind glass with gold toned mat and wrap. I love portraits of people and their chairs, especially early ones, and especially when subject and chair reflect upon and enliven one another in interesting ways, as I think is the case here. I have a hard time imagining this very tall and quite intense looking (those eyes look blazing!) man sitting comfortably, let alone still, in this by comparison very small looking spindle back chair, while at the same time they feel very aligned aesthetically. Quite a striking and also nicely moody feeling image altogether.
3 3/8" x 2 13/16" . C. 1850s-60s I believe. Good condition, with some surface aging to the foil wrap as evident.