[Still-Life with Cockatoo, Mirror, Ornamental Ball, Vases, and Lace] 1850s

This stereograph, "Still-Life with Cockatoo, Mirror, Ornamental Ball, Vases, and Lace", was created by T. R. Williams, probably in England, in the middle of the 19th century. The image contains a plethora of symbolic objects, and it's a window into Victorian society’s fascination with exoticism, domesticity, and visual spectacle. The inclusion of a cockatoo, for example, speaks to British colonial reach and the acquisition of rare and luxurious items. At the same time, the arrangement of objects such as the mirror and the ornamental ball may reference the popular Victorian genre of memento mori and the vanity of earthly possessions. Stereographs were a popular form of entertainment and education at the time, consumed in both domestic and commercial settings. Examining photography journals, trade records, and personal accounts helps us understand the cultural work that images like this performed. It reveals the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social life during the Victorian era.