A daguerreotype photographic miniature. A formal half-length portrait of an unknown naval sub-lieutenant sitting with his right arm resting on a table and his left placed on his left knee. He is looking directly at the camera. The medal pinned to his left breast is the Crimea Medal, awarded in 1854. The buttons, lace on the cuffs and epaulettes are picked out in gold. The epaulettes without the bullion indicates that he was a sub-lieutenant.

The gold-coloured mount has an oval, textured-edge aperture. The frame is also gold in colour and textured. The case is covered in dark leather and has two metal hooks on one side to take the lid, which is missing. The outer surface of the case is embossed with a design.