Photograph
1850s -1860s (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This albumen print from a glass negative is a type of photograph that was made in the mid decades of the nineteenth century. In this particular photograph, the thinness of paper and dullness of albumen indicate an early example of that process dating from the 1850s to the 1860s. It comes from an album of photographs from the Victorian metalworker Francis Skidmore's (1817-1896) firm. It is of ironwork railings or possibly a bedstead which may have been made either at the firm's premises which were located in Coventry firstly at West Orchard from 1853 and secondly at Alma Street from 1859. The photograph is thus a record of the work done and it comes from an archive of designs and photographs from the firm. A pattern book lettered 'Skidmore's Art Manufactures Co. Book of Designs' in the Public Library, Coventry shows a page of designs for railings and also for furniture although bedsteads do not feature amongst them. The firm was given this name in 1865.
A description of Skidmore's factory details the buildings as comprising amongst other facilities 'two drawing offices, with collection of ornamental designs and photographs very ably executed' and a 'Photographic studio'.
A description of Skidmore's factory details the buildings as comprising amongst other facilities 'two drawing offices, with collection of ornamental designs and photographs very ably executed' and a 'Photographic studio'.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Albumen print from a glass negative on photographic paper stuck to card |
Brief description | Photograph from an album of record photography of Francis Skidmore metalwork manufactory, Coventry, 1850s-1860s. |
Physical description | Photograph of ironwork railings or a bedstead on a rectangular piece of photographic paper. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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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 | Marta Weiss, Curator, Photography, thinks that this is an early albumen print dating from the 1850s to the 1860s but no later because of the thinness of the paper and the dullness of the albumen. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This albumen print from a glass negative is a type of photograph that was made in the mid decades of the nineteenth century. In this particular photograph, the thinness of paper and dullness of albumen indicate an early example of that process dating from the 1850s to the 1860s. It comes from an album of photographs from the Victorian metalworker Francis Skidmore's (1817-1896) firm. It is of ironwork railings or possibly a bedstead which may have been made either at the firm's premises which were located in Coventry firstly at West Orchard from 1853 and secondly at Alma Street from 1859. The photograph is thus a record of the work done and it comes from an archive of designs and photographs from the firm. A pattern book lettered 'Skidmore's Art Manufactures Co. Book of Designs' in the Public Library, Coventry shows a page of designs for railings and also for furniture although bedsteads do not feature amongst them. The firm was given this name in 1865. A description of Skidmore's factory details the buildings as comprising amongst other facilities 'two drawing offices, with collection of ornamental designs and photographs very ably executed' and a 'Photographic studio'. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.430:9-2006 |
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Record created | July 27, 2007 |
Record URL |
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