Crystal Palace Exhibition (1851) Photos

The Crystal Palace Exhibition (1851) or Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was the first world's fair and was instigated by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The exhibition was noted for its steel & glass architecture. This celebration of industry & design covered 26 acres & hosted 6,039,722 visitors. The profit from the event was used to fund the building of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum & Natural History Museum.

Click thumbnail to enlarge. F11 to view website full screen.
Prince Albert portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter after 1859 original at National Portrait Gallery. London, United Kingdom.Opening of London World's Fair by Queen Victoria in 1851 etching by Samuel Bellin of London at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Souvenir box of Crystal Palace of London World's Fair at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Picture of Crystal Palace, London, given by R.B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard at Hayes Museum. Fremont, OH.
Prince Albert (mastermind of Great Exhibition of 1851) portrait (1867) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter after 1859 original at National Portrait Gallery. London, United Kingdom.Opening of London World's Fair by Queen Victoria in 1851 etching (c1856) by Samuel Bellin of London at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Souvenir box of Crystal Palace of London World's Fair (1851) at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Picture of Crystal Palace, London, (1853) given by R.B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard at Hayes Museum. Fremont, OH.
Picture of interior of Crystal Palace, London, given by R.B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard at Hayes Museum. Fremont, OH.Crystal Palace Interior lithograph at Edward Steves Homestead Museum. San Antonio, TX.Crystal Palace exhibition souvenir plate by J&MP Bell & Co. of Glasgow at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Ironstone pot lid, vase & plate color printed with Crystal Palace images for Great Exhibition made by F&R Pratt of Fenton, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Picture of interior of Crystal Palace, London, (1853) given by R.B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard at Hayes Museum. Fremont, OH.Crystal Palace Interior lithograph at Edward Steves Homestead Museum. San Antonio, TX.Crystal Palace exhibition souvenir plate (c1851) by J&MP Bell & Co. of Glasgow at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Ironstone pot lid, vase & plate color printed with Crystal Palace images for Great Exhibition (1851) made by F&R Pratt of Fenton, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Souvenir Great Exhibition items color printed with Crystal Palace or Victoria & Albert images by several Staffordshire firms at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Souvenir Great Exhibition ironstone paste pot color printed with Victoria & Albert image by F&R Pratt of Fenton, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Souvenir Great Exhibition ironstone paste pot color printed with Crystal Palace image by T.J.&J. Mayer of Longport, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Crystal Palace exhibition ceramic jar lid at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Souvenir Great Exhibition items color printed with Crystal Palace or Victoria & Albert images (c1851) by several Staffordshire firms at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Souvenir Great Exhibition ironstone paste pot color printed with Victoria & Albert image (1851) by F&R Pratt of Fenton, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Souvenir Great Exhibition ironstone paste pot color printed with Crystal Palace image (1851) by T.J.&J. Mayer of Longport, Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Crystal Palace exhibition ceramic jar lid (1851) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ceramic jar lids including on showing interior of Crystal Palace at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Crystal Palace for London World Exposition model by Joseph Paxton at Musée des Monuments Français. Paris, France.Medal showing Crystal Palace from Universal Exposition of London by John Ottley at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Silver brooch engraved with Crystal Palace ; medal marking move of Crystal Palace to Sydenham in ; & medal of Sir Joseph Paxton designer of Crystal Palace at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Ceramic jar lids including on showing interior of Crystal Palace (1851) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Crystal Palace for London World Exposition model (1851) by Joseph Paxton at Musée des Monuments Français. Paris, France.Medal showing Crystal Palace from Universal Exposition of London (1851) by John Ottley at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Silver brooch engraved with Crystal Palace (1851); medal marking move of Crystal Palace to Sydenham in (1854); & medal of Sir Joseph Paxton designer of Crystal Palace (1854) at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Collection of medals from International Exhibitions at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Bronze medal for participants awarded at 1851 London World's Fair made by William Wyon of London at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Brass & copper inkwell souvenir of Great Exhibition by Elkington & Co. of Birmingham, England at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Inkstand made for Frederick William IV, King of Prussia in Berlin at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Collection of medals from International Exhibitions (1851-1876) at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Bronze medal for participants awarded at 1851 London World's Fair made by William Wyon of London at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Brass & copper inkwell souvenir of Great Exhibition (1851) by Elkington & Co. of Birmingham, England at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Inkstand made for Frederick William IV, King of Prussia (c1850) in Berlin (shown at 1851 London World's Fair) at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Steam engine model shown at London World's Fair by Henry Perry at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Bronze Madonna of the Apocalypse in Berlin at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Piano in dining room under wallpaper purchased at Great Exhibition at Traquair House. Scotland.Desk of hard rubber showcased Goodyear's vulcanization at Crystal Palace in London & in Paris at Mattatuck Museum. Waterbury, CT.
Steam engine model shown at London World's Fair (1851) by Henry Perry at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Bronze Madonna of the Apocalypse (c1848) in Berlin (shown at 1851 London World's Fair) at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.Piano in dining room under wallpaper purchased at Great Exhibition (1851) at Traquair House. Scotland.Desk of hard rubber (c1851) showcased Goodyear's vulcanization at Crystal Palace in London (1851) & in Paris (1855) at Mattatuck Museum. Waterbury, CT.
Porcelain vase by Pratt et Cie. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Saxe-style biscuit vase by John Rose et Cie. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Alexandre Brogniart biscuit medallion by Sèvres Manuf. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Porcelain Athens cup by Sèvres Manuf. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.
Porcelain vase (1851) by Pratt et Cie. (shown London Exposition 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Saxe-style biscuit vase (1851) by John Rose et Cie. (shown London Exposition 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Alexandre Brogniart (founder of Musée national de Céramique-Sèvres) biscuit medallion (1851) by Sèvres Manuf. (shown London Exposition 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Porcelain Athens cup (1851) by Sèvres Manuf. (shown London Exposition 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.
Porcelain chinois-Ly vase by Sèvres Manuf. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Wedgwood blue jasper vase & milk jar plus Portland vase at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silvered glass engraved tumbler by Silvered Glass Co. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silvered glass smelling salts bottles by Silvered Glass Co. at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.
Porcelain chinois-Ly vase (1851) by Sèvres Manuf. (shown London Exposition 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Wedgwood blue jasper vase (shown London Expo 1851) & milk jar (early 19thC) plus Portland vase (1790) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silvered glass engraved tumbler (1851) by Silvered Glass Co. (shown London Expo 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silvered glass smelling salts bottles (1851) by Silvered Glass Co. (shown London Expo 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.
Bottle & tumbler made of imitation malachite glass by Cristalleries du comte d'Harrach at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silver Nef for opening of Suez Canal by Fannière Brothers of Paris at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.English glass replica of Koh-i-Noor Diamond by Falcon Glassworks of Apsley Pellatt of London exhibited at 1851 London world's fair at Corning Museum of Glass. Corning, NY.Medal showing Britannia & lion from Universal Exposition of London by Leonard Charles Wyon at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.
Bottle & tumbler made of imitation malachite glass (1851) by Cristalleries du comte d'Harrach (shown London Expo 1851) at Arts et Metiers Museum. Paris, France.Silver Nef (table centerpiece in form of ship) (1869) for opening of Suez Canal by Fannière Brothers of Paris (shown London Expo 1871 & Paris Expo 1900) at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.English glass replica of Koh-i-Noor Diamond (1851) by Falcon Glassworks of Apsley Pellatt of London exhibited at 1851 London world's fair at Corning Museum of Glass. Corning, NY.Medal showing Britannia & lion from Universal Exposition of London (1862) by Leonard Charles Wyon at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.
Desk set of bronze & malachite by Charles Asprey of London at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Detail of piece of Desk set of bronze & malachite by Charles Asprey of London at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Stoneware relief molded Gothic revival vessels with Britannia metal lids by Charles Meigh & Sons of Hanley, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Earthenware jugs decorated with reliefs by T&R Boote of Burslem, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Desk set of bronze & malachite (1851) by Charles Asprey of London (exhibited at Crystal Palace expo) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Detail of piece of Desk set of bronze & malachite (1851) by Charles Asprey of London (exhibited at Crystal Palace expo of 1851) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Stoneware relief molded Gothic revival vessels with Britannia metal lids (c1850) by Charles Meigh & Sons of Hanley, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Earthenware jugs decorated with reliefs (c1850) by T&R Boote of Burslem, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Porcelain tureen painted & gilded by Charles Meigh & Sons of Hanley, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Bone china molded dessert plates decorated with views of Great Exhibition of 1851 ringed by pierced border by Minton & Co. of Stoke , Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Red glass decanter with outer white layer cut away as spiral prob. shown at Great Exhibition of 1851 by George Bacchus & Sons of Birmingham, England at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Porcelain tureen painted & gilded (c1851) by Charles Meigh & Sons of Hanley, Staffordshire shown during Great Exhibition of 1851 at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Bone china molded dessert plates decorated with views of Great Exhibition of 1851 ringed by pierced border (1851) by Minton & Co. of Stoke , Staffordshire at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.Red glass decanter with outer white layer cut away as spiral prob. shown at Great Exhibition of 1851 (c1850) by George Bacchus & Sons of Birmingham, England at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
See Also:
All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

CMP