Electrische lamp in een behuizing before 1867

Curator: Looking at this, what's your first thought? Editor: "Industrial chic" meets "steampunk shadow puppet show"? It feels very proto, very tentative, yet oddly theatrical. It wants to be magic, you know? What exactly are we looking at, though? Curator: This intriguing image showcases "Electrische lamp in een behuizing," which translates to "Electric lamp in a housing," by F.W. Funckler. It dates to before 1867. As indicated by the tags, we believe the mediums used include print and photography. It seems to be from a catalogue. Editor: A catalogue, makes sense! And look at the price, 80. Not cheap. I can practically smell the oiled gears and ozone... Curator: And that smell probably represents the spirit of invention that drove so much social and political change during that era. Electrification wasn't just about better lighting; it was about revolutionizing labor, communication, and social life. The accessibility and application of electricity changed hierarchies across gender and class lines, enabling, for example, the second industrial revolution and modern concepts of working hours. Editor: So this wasn't just some wealthy person's fancy gadget. Although I bet a few of them bought one. But also a statement about a changed world and even new rights for workers. You know, it has this very solemn look. I wonder if the people back then viewed these objects with as much reverent awe, if they too looked into the light and sensed it represented change. Curator: That’s a crucial point. How ordinary people perceive and adapt to these technologies reflects a larger story of modernization and cultural adaptation. The object is just the starting point in a much bigger story about societal aspirations, class divisions, and the often-uneven distribution of technological benefits. Editor: It is wild, the power objects can hold—how much story they manage to keep safe. It is why I can't let go. Curator: Indeed. By examining this electric lamp through multiple lenses, we not only appreciate its ingenuity, we deepen our understanding of the historical forces shaping our present.