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Design, Politics and Commerce
International Exhibitions 1851-1951

Resources in Special Collections

1851: the Great Exhibition: a lesson in taste?

Great Exhibition of the works of industry of all nations, London: 1851
Exposition Universelle, Paris: 1855 


 


listing of relevant resources

Samuel H. Blackwell The iron-making resources of the United Kingdom (Lectures on the results of the Great Exhibition: Lecture 17) London, 1852: Stack Y2-i.13 (Item 1 of 13 bound together)

G. Drysdale Dempsey The machinery of the nineteenth century; illustrated from original drawings, and including the best examples shewn at the Exhibition of the works of industry of all nations  London, 1852-1856: Sp Coll a3-a.12

Charles Dickens 'The Catalogue's account of itself' in Household Words 23 August, 1851: Sp Coll Z10-n.3

'Ecclesiological aspect of the Great Exhibition' in Ecclesiologist XII 1851: Sp Coll BD19-f.10

Henry Noel Humphreys Ten centuries of art:  its progress in Europe from the IXth to the XIXth century with a glance at the artistic works of classical antiquity, and concluding considerations on the probable influence of the Great Exhibition, and on the present state and future prospects of art in Great Britain London, 1852: Main Library  K3-y.1

*The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

*Official catalogue ... Second corrected and improved edition, 1st July, 1851 London, 1851: Sp Coll BG57-c.3 (Item 12 of 12 bound together)

Sir Joseph Paxton What is to become of the Crystal Palace? London, 1851: Sp Coll BG57-e.12  (Item 15 of 16 bound together)

William Pole Musical instruments in the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1851 London, 1851: Sp Coll B.c.1 & Sp Coll B.e.52

The Removal of the Crystal Palace [London], 1852: Sp Coll T.C.L. 4071  (Item 20 of 30 bound together) 

Henry Stevens An account of the proceedings at the dinner given by Mr. George Peabody to the Americans connected with the Great Exhibition ... on the 27th October, 1851 London, 1851: Sp Coll BG59-b.3

John Tallis Tallis's History and description of the Crystal Palace, and the Exhibition of the World's Industry in 1851 (Illustrated by ... steel engravings from original drawings and daguerreotypes by Beard, Mayall etc.) London, 1852: Main Library Fine Arts L775 TAL vol. 1 and vol. 2-3

*Art Journal: The exhibition of art-industry in Paris, 1855 London, 1855: Sp Coll BD3-a.22 


selected images from material in Special Collections

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The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Locomotive: Lord of the Isles: one of the ordinary class of engines constructed by the Great Western Company since 1847. It is capable of taking a passenger-train of 120 tons at an average speed of sixty miles an hour upon an easy gradient (page 42: quote from page 43)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The opening of the Great Exhibition by Her Most Gracious Majesty, on May the 1st, 1851: The moment chosen by the artist is that when the Prince Consort, having delivered the address, is about to present to Her Majesty the catalogue of the Exhibition (pull-out no. IV; between pages 60-61; quote from page 61)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Railway signals: the centre object shows the signal in course of action, while those at the side represent its appearance by day and night (page 67)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The refreshment room, north transept (page 76)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The Medieval Court: The Medieval Court, in the strikingly-harmonious combination of its stained glass, hardware, wood-carving, hangings, encaustic tiles - all successful repetitions of Gothic models - will at least have the merit of suggesting to many, who would not otherwise have heard of such facts, the fulness of beauty and character, and the homogenousness, of medieval design, however applied to domestic as to ecclesiastic purposes (pull-out no. V; between pages 90 & 91; quote from page 91)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Elizabethan table and stool (page 104)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The Queen and Prince Albert's visit to the machinery department of the Great Exhibition: the Queen in the Machine Room, examining the vertical printing machine invented by Applegarth for the Times newspaper. In the left-hand corner is a representation of Black's patent folding machine; while on the other side, we have a view of a carding machine, one of a series of instruments used in woollen manufacture (pull-out no. VII; between pages 116 & 117; quote from page 118)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The wounded American Indian: the effort of the sculptor has been to give a correct representation of the Indian races of North America. The figure is represented wounded and fallen, therefore typifying the race ...It is the first statue ever executed in American marble  (page 134; quote from pages 134-135)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

American library chair: The freedom with which the chair may be turned on its centre, renders it very convenient to a person who may want to turn to his library-shelf or side-table, as he can do so without leaving his seat. The castings are good, and the design neat and pretty; the whole reflecting much credit on the inventor and on American art (page 140)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Celtic brooches: Various specimens of brooches, copied from the antique ornaments found, from time to time, in different parts of the country, and preserved in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, grace these pages ... The objects exhibited are of Irish sliver and silver gilt (page 154; quote from page 153)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Gladiatorial table - John Fletcher, Cork: In this object the utile et dulce are well united (page 162; quote from page 163)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Fire grate by Stuart and Smith, Sheffield: It is made upon the principle known as Sylvester's, which effectually counteracts the disadvantages of the old system - the heat of the fire in this case being thrown into the apartment, and not, as in the common stove, up the chimney (page 202; quote from page 203)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Sheffield Court from a daguerreotype by Fehrenbach: While many of the courts or departments into which the Exhibition is divided, contain specimens of goods manufactured in various parts of the empire, the Sheffield Court is exclusively appropriated to the manufactures of the "metropolis of steel", in the manufacture of which, and of tools and cutlery, she stands unrivalled (page 210; quote from page 202)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Beetle-wing dress: It is worked by Miss Mary West, of Brougham-terrace, Kingston, Dublin. It is embroidered  in green and rich brown leaves, with flowers interspersed, formed of the beetle-wing - so much used in Indian embroidery, but seldom seen in any executed in England. The silk employed is that known by the name of Deccan silk, and the rich colours have a very good effect on the black lace of which the dress is made. We are glad to see this novel application of the beautiful beetle-wing, which glitters and looks so brilliant by candle light ... (page 219; quote from page 220)

 

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

General view of the American Department: Pianofortes of elaborate carving and brilliant tone, carriages of nice construction and elegant appointments, luxurious chairs, graceful epergnes, instruments of exact scientific construction, and machines of complicated and ingenious invention, are scattered through the department in numbers sufficient to show what the great nation of the west is aiming to accomplish side by side with the older nations of the world (pull-out no. XXIX; between pages 254 & 255; quote from page 256)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Indian hackery, or common native carriage: the wheels are made of the Acacia Arabica, or Babool, and the vehicle is worthy of remark from its being constructed without any metal being employed in it (page 325)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

View of the Turkish Court, from a photograph by Fehrenbach: The Turks have arranged their exhibition with much art. It resembles a beautiful bazaar, lighter and more coquettish than their own, in which the goods are displayed after the Eastern fashion (page 329; quote from page 330)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

The Day Dreamer, by Jennens and Bettridge: The easy chair thus appropriately named was designed by H. Fitz Cook, and manufactured in papier maché by the exhibitors (page 345)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Patent printed velvet pile carpet, Messrs Bright and Co., Manchester: [the carpet differs] from the ordinary Brussels carpets, in the fact that the pattern is produced by printing, after the material has assumed a regular form, by being woven in a power-loom (page 549; quote from pages 549-550)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

Group of objects of British manufacture: lace and embroidered dresses, shawls, etc - selected from the contributions of various manufacturers (page 552)

The illustrated exhibitor ... comprising sketches ... of the principal exhibits of the Great Exhibition of ... 1851 London, 1851 (Numbers 1-30): Sp Coll Robertson Bf69-c.1

View of the British furniture court: The truthfulness of English work ... is particularly manifested in furniture and decorative appliances; and not only truthfulness of execution, but, in some instances, beauty of design, and the excellent quality of the material, are equally predominant when compared with the productions of our continental neighbour (page 555; quote from page 554)

Official catalogue ... Second corrected and improved edition, 1st July, 1851 London, 1851: Sp Coll BG57-c.3 (Item 12 of 12 bound together)

Plan of the Building: The western half of the building is occupied by Great Britain and her Dependencies. The productions of the United Kingdom are arranged in thirty classes, and each class is indicated by a red banner. The Colonies are also marked in the same manner. The eastern half of the building is filled with the productions of foreign countries, whose names are inscribed on similar banners suspended over the various divisions. The Plan will assist in determining the position of Countries and Classes in the building (pages 12-13; quote from page 2)

Art Journal: The exhibition of art-industry in Paris, 1855 London, 1855: Sp Coll BD3-a.22 

The Imperial Dessert Service manufactured by Messrs. J. Rose & Co, of Coalbrookdale, for Messrs. Daniell & Co., of London: This service is one of the most magnificent productions in porcelain ever manufactured in England: and will, perhaps, take its stand, so far, at all events, as colour is concerned, beside the best productions of the Continent. The ground is of turquoise blue, the evenness and brilliancy of which are very remarkable (page 3)

Art Journal: The exhibition of art-industry in Paris, 1855 London, 1855: Sp Coll BD3-a.22 

Brass door handles of Messrs. Hart of London: they are unrivalled for brilliancy; Cabinet from Messrs. Crace & Co. of London: It is of Elizabethan character ... original, therefore, in design it is not, but it is of a right good order, and the workmen employed in carving it have done well. English exhibitors of this class of articles, however, will find themselves outdone in France; One of the locks of Messrs. Chubb of London: It is of pure polished steel, very beautiful in design, and of unsurpassed excellence in execution; a work with which the French will not attempt competition (page 5)

Art Journal: The exhibition of art-industry in Paris, 1855 London, 1855: Sp Coll BD3-a.22 

The works of Messrs. Herbert, Minton & Co., of Stoke-upon-Trent: a stall which commands universal attention and consequent respect, and to which the savants of all countries resort; the result of which has been that nearly the whole of the articles exhibited have been sold, many of them to the Emperor and Empress, notwithstanding the wealth of Sèvres is at their command. Messrs. Minton, indeed, boldly challenge comparison with this renowned palace of fictile art, and the competition is by no means altogether against them (page 14)

Art Journal: The exhibition of art-industry in Paris, 1855 London, 1855: Sp Coll BD3-a.22 

Objects contributed by Messrs. Prime & Son, of the Magneto-Plate Works, Birmingham: The principal of these is a CENTREPIECE, designed and modelled by Mr. J. J. Allen, an artist of the town; it is constructed to serve either as an epergne or a candelabrum; the figures, which take the form of caryatides, are symbolical of the quarters of the globe, and are intended to represent the assembling of the inhabitants of the earth with the productions of their respective countries (page 38)


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