Photograph
1860s-1872 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This albumen print from a glass negative, a type of photograph, dating to the 1860s to 1870s, is of a gate 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.
Now little known, Skidmore was once famous as the maker of the Albert Memorial (1863-1876) and the Hereford Screen (which was exhibited in London at the International Exhibition of 1862). Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) designed both the memorial and the screen and employed Skidmore to execute them. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork such as this gate. Based in Coventry, Skidmore worked for some of the leading designers of the Gothic Revival movement, particularly Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Now little known, Skidmore was once famous as the maker of the Albert Memorial (1863-1876) and the Hereford Screen (which was exhibited in London at the International Exhibition of 1862). Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) designed both the memorial and the screen and employed Skidmore to execute them. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork such as this gate. Based in Coventry, Skidmore 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 a gate by Francis Skidmore's firm, 1860s-1872 |
| Physical description | Albumen print (brownish) of a gate mounted on a wide piece of card. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'u o / super' (In handwriting in pen and brown ink on top centre of border above albumen print. The letters 'u o' are possibly a code for the cost.) |
| 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 do not appear to be printed designs for gates in a pattern book lettered 'Skidmore's Art Manufactures Co. Book of Designs' in Coventry Public Library. There are, however, some printed designs for gates in a private collection which are from a later date than the ones in Coventry because they are lettered 'BIRMINGHAM' as below. In 1872 Skidmore's Art Manufactures and Constructive Ironwork Company went into liquidation and was taken over by Winfields of Birmingham. The page of designs in the private collection is lettered 'EXTERIOR RAILING, and GATES. balconies & c.' and 'F:A:SKIDMORE: COVENTRY and 24 HUNTERS Rd BIRMINGHAM.' As this photograph is not lettered 'BIRMINGHAM' which occurs on ironwork photographed in that firm (see E.426-2006) then this gate may predate the move to Birmingham in 1872. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This albumen print from a glass negative, a type of photograph, dating to the 1860s to 1870s, is of a gate 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. Now little known, Skidmore was once famous as the maker of the Albert Memorial (1863-1876) and the Hereford Screen (which was exhibited in London at the International Exhibition of 1862). Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) designed both the memorial and the screen and employed Skidmore to execute them. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork such as this gate. Based in Coventry, Skidmore worked for some of the leading designers of the Gothic Revival movement, particularly Sir George Gilbert Scott. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.427-2006 |
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| Record created | January 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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