{"id":170791,"date":"2022-07-25T15:27:40","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T14:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?p=170791"},"modified":"2022-07-25T15:27:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T14:27:40","slug":"rare-19th-century-travelling-photo-studio-up-for-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/latest\/photo-news\/rare-19th-century-travelling-photo-studio-up-for-auction\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare 19th century travelling photo studio up for auction"},"content":{"rendered":"

A rare, possibly unique, 19th century British travelling photography studio, used by photographers John and Walter Pouncy of Dorchester from the 1860s onwards, is to be offered at auction on 5 August 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The studio is believed to be the only British example in existence and has a pre-sale estimate of \u00a38,000-\u00a312,000 from Charterhouse Auctioneers.<\/p>\n

The studio was made for the Pouncy firm and travelled throughout the county of Dorset, England.<\/p>\n

Pulled by horses it offered a studio with a glass roof, a small waiting area, entry and exit doors, steps, a darkroom for changing and processing plates and sprung wheels.<\/p>\n

It still retains original fittings for holding background rolls.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t

The Pouncy travelling photo studio pictured in 2021. \u00a9 Michael Pritchard<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

Succession of owners<\/h3>\n

After it was sold by the Pouncy firm it was remained in use by a succession of photographers and was located in Swanage for many years.<\/p>\n

Auctioneer Richard Bromell said, \u2018This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire what we understand to be a unique piece of Victorian photography history which would make a stunning studio or office.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The current owner, also a photographer, purchased the studio and hoped to find a permanent home for it, while allowing it to travel and retaining its original and to continue to function as a studio.<\/p>\n

It is complete but needs some restoration and conservation work.<\/p>\n

The studio is well documented with the original plans surviving.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\"Part\t\t\t

Part of the darkroom of the rare travelling photo studio. \u00a9 Michael Pritchard<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

Photo lithographic milestone<\/h3>\n

John Pouncy is best known for\u00a0his work uniting lithography with photography met which culminated in his publication in\u00a0Dorsetshire Photographically Illustrated\u00a0<\/em>(1857)\u00a0\u2013 the first English publication ever to feature photo lithographic illustrations.<\/p>\n

The director of programmes at the Royal Photographic Society, Michael Pritchard, explained, \u2018I had the privilege of seeing the studio in the summer of 2021 and meeting its current owner. It is a remarkable survival. Entering felt like stepping back 130 years. Although the current owner’s hope of restoring and retaining it as a travelling studio were not able to be realised, it has been lovingly looked after.\u00a0It deserves a new home where it can be preserved and shown, ideally in Dorset, and be used as a studio, telling its remarkable story and that of the Pouncy business and 19th century photography.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

You can watch a short film about the travelling studio below…<\/p>\n