Giroux Daguerreotype camera
Camera
1839 (manufactured)
1839 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Talbot is celebrated today as one of the pioneer inventors of photography. He owned many cameras, ranging from small, crude boxes that his wife called ‘mousetraps’ to sophisticated devices like this. He undoubtedly cannibalised some of his cameras to make new ones, transferring lenses and other fittings. Talbot’s granddaughter, Matilda, brought her grandfather’s legacy to wider attention, donating his photographs and this camera, among other equipment, to the Royal Photographic Society in 1921.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Giroux Daguerreotype camera, owned and modified by William Henry Fox Talbot for the calotype process. Designed by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre and manufactured by Alphonse Giroux, the first model of camera on general sale, 1839 |
| Physical description | Sliding box camera design, wooden construction with a brass lens in the front panel. |
| Gallery label | Photography Centre 2018-20:
Camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–77)
Whole-plate camera and tripod
About 1840–45
Talbot is celebrated today as one of the pioneer inventors of photography. He owned many cameras, ranging from small, crude boxes that his wife called ‘mousetraps’ to sophisticated devices like this. He undoubtedly cannibalised some of his cameras to make new ones, transferring lenses and other fittings. Talbot’s granddaughter, Matilda, brought her grandfather’s legacy to wider attention, donating his photographs and this camera, among other equipment, to the Royal Photographic Society in 1921.
Wooden construction camera with wooden tripod
Museum nos. RPS.3042-2017 (camera) & RPS.3043-2017 (tripod)
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund |
| Credit line | The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund. |
| Association | |
| Summary | Talbot is celebrated today as one of the pioneer inventors of photography. He owned many cameras, ranging from small, crude boxes that his wife called ‘mousetraps’ to sophisticated devices like this. He undoubtedly cannibalised some of his cameras to make new ones, transferring lenses and other fittings. Talbot’s granddaughter, Matilda, brought her grandfather’s legacy to wider attention, donating his photographs and this camera, among other equipment, to the Royal Photographic Society in 1921. |
| Other number | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | RPS.3042-2017 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 22, 2017 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
