Antique c.1850s Cased Ambrotype Photograph - Double Portrait by Charles Timms For Sale

Rare Antique c.1850s Cased Ambrotype Photograph – Victorian Double Portrait by Charles TimmsUp for sale is a wonderful, authentic mid-19th-century cased ambrotype photograph (image on glass) of excellent historical interest.
The portrait captures two women—likely mother and daughter or sisters—in exceptional, crisp detail.Photographer Provenance:
The reverse of the case retains its highly desirable, completely intact original paper trade label reading: “Taken by Mr. C. Timms, Artist, No. 41, Newington Causeway, London.” Charles Timms was a documented \"Practical Photographic Artist\" operating in this bustling commercial district of South London during the dawn of commercial studio photography, providing fantastic provenance and regional history to this piece.Key Details & Fashion Indicators:* The Attire: The standing figure is dressed in a magnificent tiered crinoline skirt with a structured, striped bodice and wide pagoda sleeves—quintessential high fashion of the mid-to-late 1850s. The seated figure wears a dark mantle and a traditional Victorian lace cap featuring subtle, hand-tinted pink ribbon accents applied directly to the glass plate.* The Presentation: Housed in its original leather-covered wooden case with a beautifully preserved plush red velvet interior liner, a decorative stamped brass mat, and an ornate metal pinch-clasp mechanism.Condition Report:* The Image: The underlying collodion image is sharp, stable, and boasts fantastic contrast. It remains remarkably free of the severe flaking or image loss common to glass plates of this age. There is only some typical light internal dust/specks trapped under the protective cover glass.
* The Case: The original leather-on-wood case is structurally sound and the front brass clasp functions perfectly. Reflecting its 170+ year age, there is some honest cosmetic wear, including scuffing on the back and a small patch of worn leather at one corner exposing the wooden base block (all fully visible in the photos).An untouched, highly collectible example of early British photographic history with a verified London studio origin.Shipping: Will be heavily padded and packed with extreme care inside a sturdy box to ensure the delicate glass image is fully protected during transit. Shipped via tracked and signed delivery.