His hat is on some kind of strangely covered studio table. There's a landscape backdrop showing a fence. His formal stance - you can see the base of the posing stand and wide-eyed expression, gives this an appealing and also thought-provoking character. The dog also has a formal pose looking in at the left.
This CDV-size tintype is in an arched mat [the preserver lacks its bottom] in a very rare and desirable case, specially made for this size image. The CDV-size thermoplastic cases that one encounters have a compartment that is slightly too small for normal American CDV's and CDV size tintypes. This leather case fits them perfectly. There are loose flaps at left and right that are meant to open in the center and there seems to have been a leather panel in the center of the back that is now missing.
