[Album of photographs] 1854 - 1856

This photograph album was made in the 19th century by Louis-Pierre-Théophile Dubois de Nehaut, and is bound in tooled leather. It is a beautiful example of industrial craft. Consider how this album was made. The leather would have been tanned and prepared, then embossed with these gilded designs – floral motifs, curvilinear frames, and the bold word “Album.” The regularity of the pattern suggests a mechanized process, yet one that still demanded a degree of handcraft in the application of the gold leaf. In an era of rapid industrialization, objects like this album reflect a tension between mass production and the desire for unique, personalized items. While photography itself was becoming more accessible, the presentation of these images in a lavish album elevated them to the status of treasured possessions. It reminds us that even within industrial production, there is room for skilled artistry and social meaning.