The Great Exhibition, 1851: Display of Silver Plate by Garrand and Co.

Photograph of three silver plated items. In the centre of the grouping is a large ewer, a jug with a wide mouth, that was used as a race cup. The ewer is decorated with a depiction of Hercules combatting the horses of Diomedes. This central depiction is surrounded by emblems of the labours of Hercules, for instance, the handle represents the Hydra of Lerna.

This photograph is from Volume III (RCIN 2800002) of ' Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851: Reports by the Juries on the Subjects in the Thirty Classes into which the Exhibition was Divided'. The incredibly successful Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, commonly known as the Great Exhibition, ran from May to October 1851. At the exhibition's conclusion, over 100 copies of the four volume 'Reports by the Juries' were distributed to foreign governments and notable participants. The reports consist of the juries' comments and assessments of the works displayed in the exhibition. The idea and decision to illustrate the reports with photographs is attributed to Prince Albert (1819-61).