Sixth Plate Ambrotype of a Doubly Armed Young Confederate Officer

Sixth Plate Ambrotype of a Doubly Armed Young Confederate Officer – This fine condition sixth plate ambrotype depicts a young, Confederate officer, wearing a nine-button, frock coat and a low crown kepi or forage cap adorned with company letter designations; the cap has what appears to be a butternut, gray crown, with a branch of service, darker colored wool, circumferential band around the base of the crown’s exterior. Around his waist, the subject is wearing a wide, leather belt with a rectangular belt plate. The plate, buttons and company hat letters were all gilded in the period, thereby negating the ability to distinguish any additional details. Suspended from the soldier’s belt are a revolver holster and a brass or tin-tipped scabbard. In one hand, the young soldier holds what appears to be a Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver; in his other hand, he holds a menacingly large, clip point Bowie knife with an S-shaped guard. The image is housed in a full, leatherette covered case. There is only a very slight bit of solarization along the very top of the image that does not impinge whatsoever on to the image proper. This is an early war image and may depict a young officer from either North or South Carolina.