Quarter Plate Ambrotype of Militiamen

Quarter plate ambrotype portrait of two bearded privates, each wearing a light colored frock coat with a false plastron in red and interesting headgear with stamped metallic plate showing the faint outline of an early archaic Federal-period spread eagle topped by a colored plume or ball tuft. Both privates also wear white leather belts, one belt showing a generic plate, possibly militia, the other man with a most unusual pair of open holsters fitted with integral US shields. The custom holsters appear to hold long barreled small caliber single-shot civilian (percussion) pistols, butt forward, with the wooden tompions plugged in the barrels. Likely a pre-Civil War image showing Northern militiamen, possibly from New England. Uncased. Ca 1850s.

Provenance: Eugene R. Groves Collection of 19th Century Photography
Condition Report: Scattered spotting on plate. Image a bit dark. Contrast a bit light, but details still visible.

Image housed under glass with mat and preserver, but lacking case. Mat preserver in poor condition, with top edge fully separated.