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'.