Excellent 1/4 daguerreotype that an included note identifies as the home of Sebert Davenport in Haydenville, Massachusetts in the early 1850s. From my research, Seibert Ellsworth Davenport was a dentist, and this would have been his boyhood home, owned by his parents Joseph N. Davenport (also a dentist) and Lucia A. (Holmes) Davenport.
The house still stands - see picture #2. Looks slightly different... a porch has been added, probably sometime around 1900.
Clear and sharp; you can see the individual tassels on the curtains in the windows and slats in the shutters. What definitely appears to be an African American woman wearing an apron is standing in shadows in the doorway, and laundry is hanging out to dry on the right. There is also a smaller building just visible to the far right.
Housed in a nice, full case with an excellent pad, complete, intact spine and both clasps present. Case is 4.75" x 3.75" when closed.
Tarnish ring, spots of tarnish, small mold spiders, and some small mat abrasions. No swipes, dings, or smudges. The diagonal lines going through the porch appear to be on the glass, not on the plate, and are exaggerated by my scanner... hardly even noticeable in person. Seals are broken, though remain in case. The plate has been stabilized with two pieces archival tape, though not completely sealed. The entire piece fits in the case snugly, with no movement.
Boxed & insured Priority Mail