86. / Mentri / 21.12.14

Title

Creator

G.R. Lambert and Co.

Year/Period

1867-1918

Region

Singapore

Object Type

glass plate negatives, negatives (photographs)

Material

glass (material), collodion, gelatin

Technique

photographic processes, coating (process), exposure (photographic)

Dimension

Object size: 16.4 x 12.0 x 0.1 cm

Accession No.

2018-01164

Collection of

Peranakan Museum

This glass plate negative shows a nyonya posing beside a chair. “85/ Mentri/ 21.12.24” is inscribe on the plate’ edge. Glass plates are first coated with a photosensitive collodion or gelatin layer before being exposed using a camera. The resultant negative image can be used to make any number of positive prints. First opened in 1867 in High Street by the Dresden native Gustave Richard Lambert, G.R. Lambert and Co. was a photography studio who produced numerous photographs of Singapore and its elite. The firm was often the choice as official photographers for important state events in Singapore. It was the oldest photography studio in Singapore when it closed in 1918.