English oak bedstead
Photograph
ca. 1894 (photographed)
ca. 1894 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This photograph of an elaborate bestead in the collection of the V&A was produced by the Museum's photographic service shortly after the bed was acquired. Used as a collection management tool, files containing these original photographs were frequently consulted by the keepers of the collections and other staff. As well, copies were often made available to artists, designers and students through the Art Library.
The leaves around the platform highlight the working methods of the Museum's 'Official Photographer' who would have been dependent upon natural light to make this photograph. Large objects such as this bed were moved outdoors in order that adequate lighting was available to produce these images. This is just one of the many obstacles that the 'Official Photographer' faced in documenting the collection.
The leaves around the platform highlight the working methods of the Museum's 'Official Photographer' who would have been dependent upon natural light to make this photograph. Large objects such as this bed were moved outdoors in order that adequate lighting was available to produce these images. This is just one of the many obstacles that the 'Official Photographer' faced in documenting the collection.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | English oak bedstead (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | albumen print |
| Brief description | A photograph of an English oak bedstead, albumen print, ca. 1894 |
| Physical description | A mounted sepia-toned photograph of an elaborately carved canopied bed located on a platform among leaves |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | Cast Courts Reinstallation: 27 November 2018
5. FACISIMILE PHOTOGRAPH OF
Bedstead
The South Kensington Museum Museum Photographic Studio, between 1890-1894
19th-century photographers had technical challenges to overcome. They could only use natural light, so photographing large objects often had to happen outside on sunny days. This photograph shows a 16th-century oak bed in the V&A collection, outside with a sheet pinned up behind it. The drift of dead leaves suggests this was photographed in the Museum garden.
REPRODUCED FROM
Albumen print
South Kensington, London
Museum no. PH.472-1894
(27 November 2018) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This photograph of an elaborate bestead in the collection of the V&A was produced by the Museum's photographic service shortly after the bed was acquired. Used as a collection management tool, files containing these original photographs were frequently consulted by the keepers of the collections and other staff. As well, copies were often made available to artists, designers and students through the Art Library. The leaves around the platform highlight the working methods of the Museum's 'Official Photographer' who would have been dependent upon natural light to make this photograph. Large objects such as this bed were moved outdoors in order that adequate lighting was available to produce these images. This is just one of the many obstacles that the 'Official Photographer' faced in documenting the collection. |
| Associated object | 404-1890 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.472-1894 |
About this object record
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| Record created | September 20, 2016 |
| Record URL |
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