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A Family at afternoon tea
Underwood & Underwood - Enlarge image
A Family at afternoon tea
- Object:
Photograph
- Place of origin:
New York (City) (made)
- Date:
1855-1860 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Underwood & Underwood (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Albumen prints mounted on glass
- Museum number:
196-1945
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F, case X, shelf 546, box A
Object Type
A stereograph is a pair of photographic images of the same subject taken from slightly different angles. This gives the illusion of a single three-dimensional image when viewed through a stereoscope designed to hold it. Sometimes these images were coloured by hand in paints or inks to make them more life-like. The colouring here of the carpet, tablecloth, walls and curtains brings out the detail in the heavily-patterned interior typical of the mid-Victorian home.
Ownership & Use
Stereographs were mass produced. Viewing them was a popular amusement carried out in the home from the 1850s until the early 20th century.
Subjects Depicted
In this image, a group is posed taking tea from a silver tea set and china cups and saucers. Domestic scenes of a model family like this - or of the institutions of society such as school, church or marriage - were typical subjects of popular stereographs.
