Featured Antique cased photo-military uniform identification please!

Bought this today, not a collector of military themed photos but found this a nice one, could anyone tell me a bit more about this gentleman please?

 

IMHO superb piece.Can you give measurements,it may be an Ambrotype.Is there a maker's mark impressed in the cases inner velvet cover ?
PS-Any antique photo experts in the house.Can you recommend anyone @Any Jewelry ?

 

Thank youit measures roughly 12 x 9.6 cm when closed. Unfortunately there is no marks

 

Sitter does not look American.

 

Google Images thinks it's a Portuguese uniform but whadaIknow. Here's King Luis I.

Debora

 

Thank you lol I tried google too but I myself can't tell the difference between all of them at all

 

This is bought in uk, tho that won't guarantee it's origin

 

The sleeve decoration is very distinctive.

Debora

 

The uniform also resembles this one from the British 45th Regiment of foot Sherwood Foresters (but I can't find examples from the 46th regiment) -

https://thehistorybunker.co.uk/British-Army-Victorian-Uniforms?product_id=1774

 

Would that indicate a higher rank?

 

Described as "Gold faced cuffs." No idea as to their meaning.

Debora

 

Oh I see! There’s a 46 on his hat tho, would that mean something?

 

I am assuming the 46 might mean 46th regiment, hence my disappointment at not being able to find an example of a uniform from the 46th to confirm.

 

But guess we're quite close tho thanks

 

OK - the 46th South Devonshire Regiment of foot served in the Crimean War in 1854.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/46th_(South_Devonshire)_Regiment_of_Foot

Here is a medal awarded to Charles Wooden of the 17th Lancers, who served in the Light Brigade (also Crimean War). It looks very similar to what we can see of the medal your fellow is wearing -

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/49986/49986-h/49986-h.htm

A date of the mid 1850s is consistent with the type of photograph (probably an ambrotype). So, he may be from the 46th Regiment, and served in the Crimean War.

 

That's very detailed, thank you so much! Tho I have almost 0 idea of military&history stuff at that time haha do you think it possible to find out who he is? If his rank is high enough to be identified

 

One thing you might try is looking behind the photograph. Sometimes there are pieces of paper hidden there, with information about the sitter.

Here is a diagram of the structure of early cased photos, including ambrotypes. An ambrotype would be an image on glass, in the position where the diagram indicates a daguerreotype -


https://www.nedcc.org/about/nedcc-stories/dolley-madison-daguerreotype

The photograph is an assemblage of several layers, held together by a metal frame - the "preserver" - that wraps around the layers. This sandwich is simply press fitted into the case. If you have a very thin tool or spatula, you may be able to carefully insert it between the preserver and the red fabric lining of the case, and pop the whole sandwich out of the case. You don't want to unwrap the preserver, or otherwise disturb the layers of the sandwich.

If you don't find any information there (or don't feel safe to remove it from its case) @Debora might have suggestions as to resources for identifying him via military records.

 

Here's another similar medal from the Crimean War. This one's of the 46th

https://www.chestermedals.com/en-GB/single-medals/4-bar-crimea-medal-46th-regiment/prod_11230

 

Thank you! I have taken out the whole thing but unfortunately nothing was found there. Still thanks for the detailed instructions

 

Cap for comparison.

Debora