1/6 plate D Octagonal Brass Mat with velvet imprinted lining Unidentified Estimated Dates - 1840s

Color Daguerreotypists commonly added touches of color to portraits, gilting chains and jewelry and "pinking" the cheeks. Some daguerreotypes were hand-painted, coloring the entire image. The most common method for applying color to daguerreotypes was to cover most of the image with a stencil and have the artist breathe on the plate. Pigmented dust would then cling to the condensation in the isolated areas. As an alternative, some artists would use a fine camel-hair brush. (Mace 16).