Fashions 1837-1887

1888

Not on view

In the back of this catalogue from Queen Victoria’s milliner, a disclaimer confirms that no British songbirds were sacrificed for its production. Nevertheless, a flock of hats in fine feather fills this page spread, flaunting designs fit for the royal family. The deluxe volume is illustrated with woodburytypes, an early photomechanical process with a rich tonal range to register varied velvets, silks, straws, and plumes. Hatstands and supports have been edited out of these images to suspend the specimens midair. Surreal to modern eyes, the effect accentuates the hats’ commodity status and implies inventory soaring out of stock.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Fashions 1837-1887
Author: William Charles Brown (British, active late 19th century)
Date: 1888
Medium: Woodburytypes
Dimensions: 22.5 x 17 cm (8 7/8 x 6 11/16 in.)
Approx. 9 x 14 in. open
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Joyce F. Menschel Photography Library Fund, 2011
Object Number: 2011.190 (1–4)
Curatorial Department: Photographs

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Hat, William Charles Brown British, straw, silk, feathers, British — Hat
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Street Incidents: A Series of Twenty-One Permanent Photographs, with Descriptive Letter-Press, John Thomson British, Scottish, Woodburytypes — Street Incidents: A Series of Twenty-One Permanent Photographs, with Descriptive Letter-Press
John Thomson
Author Adolphe Smith
1881

[Hats J79-J80]; [Hats J81-J82], William Charles Brown British, Woodburytypes — [Hats J79-J80]; [Hats J81-J82]
Author William Charles Brown
1888

Stroh Violin, George Evans & Co. English, Mahogany and aluminum, British — Stroh Violin
George Evans & Co.
first quarter 20th century

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