Deuren gedecoreerd met malachiet op de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen 1851

This photograph by C.M. Ferrier and F. von Martens captures malachite-decorated doors at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. The doors embody luxury through the precious stone that adorns them, malachite. The stone’s deep green hues and intricate banding create a mesmerizing visual texture, indicative of specialized lapidary work. The process of mining, cutting, and polishing malachite was labor-intensive and would have been considered highly valuable. The doors themselves are also finely crafted, pointing to an intense division of labor: the contributions of the mine worker, stone cutter, designer and manufacturer. These doors symbolize the grandeur and industrial ambition of the mid-19th century, a period when raw materials were transformed into objects of beauty and opulence. But beyond aesthetics, the work also encapsulates the social context of labor and global trade that fueled such displays of wealth. This photograph reminds us that the story of design is always intertwined with the story of work.