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Prince Albert used photography to document exhibitions and works of art

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Photographs of Decorative Arts in the Royal Collection c.1853-5

Brown leather and cloth bound album | 28.5 x 30 x 3.3 cm (album) | RCIN 2369573

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Brown cloth and leather bound album containing photographs (RCINs 2369574-2369611) of arms and armour and furniture, including various swords, daggers, shields and guns as well as a plate, mirror and silver items. Many of these are now in the Royal Collection.

Some, if not all of the objects photographed, were displayed at Gore House in 1853. Thompson was commissioned to photograph the display at Gore House, a display of loaned items including items purchased from the Great Exhibition and other objects loaned from the Royal Collection, Waddesdon Manor, and elsewhere. Gore House was part of the estate purchased by the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, following the Great Exhibition. The house was used by the schools of Science and Art, and also hosted exhibitions until it was demolished in 1857. The grounds were absorbed into the Horticultural Society. Today the site of Gore House is occupied by the Royal Albert Hall, and the grounds by the Imperial Institute.
  • Creator(s)

    Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68) (photographer)

  • 28.5 x 30 x 3.3 cm (album)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • albums
        • photographs
      • printed & manuscript material
        • books
          • book: half leather bound
            • book: half leather bound in morocco
              • book: half leather bound in brown morocco
          • book: all edges gilt
    Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Military engineering
          • Arms (weapons)
            • Side arms (weapons)
              • Swords
            • Armour
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Precision mechanisms & instruments
          • Cameras
    • Organisation
      • Form of documents
        • Indexes
          • Inventories

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sinhalese sword head

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Four swords

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sword hilt

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two sword heads

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three European swords

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sword

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sword in holder

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three swords

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three daggers

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three daggers

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Janbiya, or dagger, with belt and scabbard

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Arm defence

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Japanese swords

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sword handles and scabbards

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Kora sword and holder

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Kris and sheath

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Kris and sheath

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Kris and sheath

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Kris and sheath

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two katars

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three sporting guns

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three sporting guns

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three non-European maces

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Axe

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Shield

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Shield

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Shield

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Algerian gifts

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Plate

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Lace

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Lace

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Armchair

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sieboard

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

English mirror

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Vase

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Teapot

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Vase with lid