VERY RARE MORNING DAY AURORA WITH THE GENIUS OF LIGHT DAG DAGUERREOTYPE CASE For Sale

This is case #40, ‘Morning (Day, Aurora with the Genius of Light),’ in Union Cases, by Krainik, Krainik, and Walvoord. The book lists it as ‘VG’ for Very Rare.
This is case #1-30, ‘Morning-Day, Aurora with the Genius of Light 1,’ in Nineteenth Century Photographic Cases and Wall Frames, by Paul Berg. The book also lists it as ‘VG’ for Very Rare.
Excerpt from Union Cases: “This beautiful case design is taken directly from a bas-relief by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen (1768/70 – 1844). Thorvaldsen was regarded as a leader of the classical revival in the nineteenth century. Many of his works were executed in the Greek and Roman styles, including the statues of Jason, Venus, Psyche, and The Graces. He created the bas-reliefs Day, Aurora With the Genius of Light and its companion, Night With her Children, Sleep and Death, in 1815. According to Heinz K. Henisch, ‘there seems to be little doubt that Thorvaldsen borrowed his idea of these bas-reliefs from a portion of a ceiling, painted by Albano, in the Veraspi Palace at Rome. The bas-reliefs, often referred to simply as Day and Night, were popularized through photographic and print reproductions. Fine engravings of both were made by W. Roffe and published in the Art Journal, London, in 1852. These designs obviously had great appeal, as they were offered as a premium to attract subscribers In the case design, the infant figure with its torch held high symbolizes both the new day and the start of life. The inscription ‘Morning’ appears directly beneath…”
COLOR. Brown.
SIZE. Quarter plate.
GENERAL COMMENTS. Mostly crisp. Rare case.
FRONT. Very good edges. Very good corners.
BACK. Very good edges. Lower left corner is nicked a bit. Other corners are fine.
RAILS. Very good. Tiny nick at hinge corner. No stress cracks.
INSIDE RAILS. Very good to excellent. No stress cracks.
HINGES. Good.
CLASP. Works. A little sticky.
VELVET PAD. A little wear. Very good. Vibrant.