Wooden Ornate Cabinet card Viewer - Plaque

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

51929

Title

Plaque with dedication on cabinet card viewer given to campaigner Eliza Wigham for her contribution to the Edinburgh Exhibition, 1886

Description

The plaque on the inside of the lid of an ornate photograph (cabinet card) viewer. On inside of lid the silver plaque reads "with dedication to Eliza Wigham from the Loving Friends from the Artisan Department, Edinburgh Exhibition 1886".

Date

1886

Size

22.5cm x 25cm x 43cm

Type

Silver; Wood

Location

Museums Collection Centre

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

Cabinet card viewers were used to view photographs printed on card. A magnifying glass allowed the viewer to see more detail on the card. Viewers were ornate, and often presented as gifts.

This cabinet card viewer was given to Eliza Wigham for her contribution to the Artisan Department of the organisation behind the International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art of 1886.

Eliza Wigham was a notable campaigner for women's emancipation and suffrage, the abolition of slavery and also an active member of the British Women's Temperance Association's Christian Union. You can listen to a podcast from Museums & Galleries Edinburgh about her and items in the collection relating to her work.

The 1886 exhibition was a showcase of modern technology and drew visitors from across the country. Many similar exhibitions were taking place around Europe, celebrating innovations in technology and design at a time of huge societal change. The Edinburgh exhibition showcased a range of topics, ranging from cutting edge steam technology to new developments in rifle making and a reconstruction of Edinburgh’s Old Town, complete with characters in costume such as the old Town Guard and Mary Queen of Scots.

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