It has been a while since I found a cased photo I really loved for its degradation, but this is one of those (though I would certainly really love this one in pristine condition too!) For me the all over craquelure makes this lovely young woman feel extra moody and the image all the more an object-- hovering in between the worlds of past and present, dead and living, substance and spirit. With hands on a book in front of her, pinked cheeks, and painted backdrop behind her, including a view of a sailboat on the water in the distance and very poetic feeling branch arching over her in what feels like a protective and also somewhat mournful sort of way. Found in Upstate NY near Albany.
Case: 3 5/8" x 3 1/8" closed. Sixth plate ambrotype approx 3 1/4" x 2 5/8". Degradation at evident, case in good antique condition.