Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case M, Shelf 80

Photograph

1872-1899 (made)
Artist/Maker

This albumen print from a glass negative, a type of photograph dating from the 1860s to 1870s, is of railings and is the work of the firm of Francis Skidmore (1817-1896). The photograph is thus a record of the work done and comes from an archive of designs and photographs from the firm. The albumen print is lettered 'F.A.SKIDMORE . COVENTRY AND 24 HUNTERS Rd BIRMINGhm' which gives an indication of the date that the photograph was taken. In 1872 Skidmore's Art Manufactures and Constructive Ironwork Company went into liquidation and was taken over by Winfields of Birmingham so this albumen print probably dates from then. Skidmore made railings for important commissions such as the Albert Memorial, Hyde Park, London and those in St. Mary's Guildhall, Coventry. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork like these railings. He worked for some of the leading designers of the Gothic Revival movement, particularly Sir George Gilbert Scott.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Albumen print on paper mounted on card
Brief description
Albumen print of ironwork railings made by Francis Skidmore's firm
Physical description
Albumen print (brownish) of railings with spiralling tendrils.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.5cm
  • Width: 11.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
'F.A.SKIDMORE . COVENTRY AND 24 HUNTERS Rd BIRMINGhm' (Lettered on the front)
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Friends of the National Libraries
Object history
The provenance is the grand-daughter of Francis Skidmore.
Production
There are printed designs for railings in a pattern book lettered 'Skidmore's Art Manufactures Co. Book of Designs' in Coventry Public Library. Peter Howell (see References) has some printed designs for railings in his private collection which are from a later date than the ones in Coventry because they are lettered 'BIRMINGHAM' as below. In the 1872 Skidmore's Art Manufactures and Constructive Ironwork Company went into liquidation and was taken over by Winfields of Birmingham so it appears that Skidmore was still producing similar railings for more than seven years from 1865 because the pattern book in Coventry Library is lettered with the title that Skidmore's firm used from this earlier date. The page of designs in Peter Howell's collection is lettered 'EXTERIOR RAILING, and GATES. balconies & c.' and 'F:A:SKIDMORE: COVENTRY and 24 HUNTERS Rd BIRMINGHAM.'
Subjects depicted
Summary
This albumen print from a glass negative, a type of photograph dating from the 1860s to 1870s, is of railings and is the work of the firm of Francis Skidmore (1817-1896). The photograph is thus a record of the work done and comes from an archive of designs and photographs from the firm. The albumen print is lettered 'F.A.SKIDMORE . COVENTRY AND 24 HUNTERS Rd BIRMINGhm' which gives an indication of the date that the photograph was taken. In 1872 Skidmore's Art Manufactures and Constructive Ironwork Company went into liquidation and was taken over by Winfields of Birmingham so this albumen print probably dates from then. Skidmore made railings for important commissions such as the Albert Memorial, Hyde Park, London and those in St. Mary's Guildhall, Coventry. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork like these railings. He worked for some of the leading designers of the Gothic Revival movement, particularly Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Bibliographic reference
Howell, Peter. Francis Skidmore and the Metalwork. In: Chris Brooks, ed. The Albert Memorial. The Prince Consort National Memorial: its History, Contexts, and Conservation. p.264.
Collection
Accession number
E.426-2006

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2008
Record URL
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