Props Collection

My Studio by Fortunino Matania
Self-portrait of the Italian artist, Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) pictured at work in his studio at 104 Priory Road, Hampstead, London. Date: c.1955

Miner riding drams, Tirpentwys Colliery, South Wales
A miner riding a journey of drams (coal trucks) at Tirpentwys Colliery near Pontypool in South Wales. Date: 1910

Welsh women road builders, South Wales
A group of twenty Welsh women road builders in Pembrokeshire, Dyfed, South Wales, holding their spades. They built the road to Hook in 1903-4 to facilitate transport to the colliery

Coal miner filling truck, South Wales mine
A coal miner (Billy Hurland) filling a dram (coal truck) at Baldwins Level (nicknamed Clog and Legging) in a coalmine near Pontypool in South Wales

James Doughty, oldest clown in England
James Doughty of Brighton, at the time of this photograph the oldest clown in England, about to celebrate his 94th birthday. Seen here in costume with two of his performing dogs

Gladstone / Disraeli 1874
The Managers Room Mr Punch as theatre manager asks his dramatists Gladstone and Disraeli what their plans are for the season. Date: 3 January 1874

Miner working in a coal seam, South Wales
A miner, stripped to the waist, with a pick resting across his shoulder and a lamp in his hand, in a coal seam in South Wales

Woman performing as a bus conductor in a comic sketch

National Air and Space Museum, the worlds most visited museum, Washington D.C. United States of America, North America

East Pool Mine, Illogan, Cornwall. Late 1800s
Old underground workings. Photographer: John Charles Burrow

New Cooks Kitchen, Illogan, Cornwall. Late 1800s
Solitary miner at 234 level. Photographer: John Charles Burrow (1852 - 1914)

Kyoto, Japan - Maruyama Park - Cherry Blossom
Japan - Cherry Blossoms in Maruyama Park, Kyoto. The parks star attraction is a weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura), supported by a multitude of props. Date: circa 1910s

South Kirkby Colliery early 1900s

Spike Milligan at rehearsals for London Weekend, TVs new series called " Curry and Chips" in which he plays with Eric Sykes an Indian working in a joke factory. November 1969 P011409

RMS Oceanic in Graving Dock, Liverpool
RMS Oceanic in Graving Dock (Dry Dock), Liverpool, shortly before launch in 1899. Date: circa 1899

Winding man, Tirpentwys Colliery, South Wales
The winding man at the coal face in Tirpentwys Colliery near Pontypool in South Wales

Dilettanti Theatricals, or A Peep at the Green Room, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803
NCO189740 Dilettanti Theatricals, or A Peep at the Green Room, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray

At the variety artist benevolent institution at Twickenham Mr R H Gillespie ( centre ) with his wife and son and brother 1922

Ruins of the Fallen Houses in Pilgrim-street, City, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Ruins of the Fallen Houses in Pilgrim-street, City, 1858. Engraving from a photograph by Butler and Dyer, of Walnut-tree-walk, Lambeth

The demolition of Old Westminster-Bridge, 1860. Creator: Unknown
The demolition of Old Westminster-Bridge, [London], 1860....the ancient bridge stood for more than six hundred years before the foundation of its youthful

The Battle-Painter Jorgen Sonne in his Studio, 1823-1825. Creator: Ditlev Blunck
The Battle-Painter Jorgen Sonne in his Studio;A Battle-Painter, Jorgen Sonne, in his Studio;A Battle-Painter in his Studio, 1823-1825

Tommy Cooper, 15th July 1977. Pictured wearing a giant pair of ears, which he will be using as a prop when guest starring on Thames Televisions Night Out at the London Casino

Tony Hancock rehearsing for a show in Blackpool. 29th June 1966

nDr. Whoi John Pertwee: Jon Pertwee returns as Dr. Who when a new series of adventures begins on BBC-1 at 5.50 pm Saturday January 1st and for the first time

Ealing Studios Props Department 1940s Date: 1940s

Taking pit props into a coal mine

Fitting long props, coal miners

Miners fitting long pit props Victorian period

Coal Mining fitting roof supports early 1900s Date: circa 1900s

The House on the Props, Polperro, Cornwall - Painted by William Carruthers Affleck for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J

13131742
Human Skeleton with Halloween props Date: 11-03-2013

13131741
Human Skeleton with Halloween props Date: 11-03-2013

Ichikawa Danjuro V, 1772. Creator: Shunsho
Ichikawa Danjuro V, 1772. Attributed to Katsukawa Shunsho

Properties, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)", 1898. Creator: Kogyo Tsukioka
Properties, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)", 1898

Tosen, 1898 (colour woodblock print)
425525 Tosen, 1898 (colour woodblock print) by Kogyo, Tsukioka (1869-1927); 24--33.3 cm; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, USA; (add.info.: Scene from a Noh play.); Arthur M

Props store at the Paris Opera (b / w photo)
3098677 Props store at the Paris Opera (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Props store at the Paris Opera)

A jolly group of holidaymakers pose for a photograph with prop beer bottle, various modes of transport and hats at a Blackpool studio. Date: 1933

Man and woman of the Black Forest, Germany, 1818. She holds a rake and he is sharpening a scythe ready for harvest. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Mary Anne Vennings A Geographical Present

Joseph Addison, 1748 (engraving)
MBD292233 Joseph Addison, 1748 (engraving) by Kneller, Godfrey (1646-1723) (after); Collection Michael Burden; (add.info.: Addison (1672-1719) was an English writer and politician; ); English

Family group - Studio portrait at the seaside for two sisters and their four children (complete with buckets and spades!)

Two Acrobats in Red Tights (w / c on paper)
BRN198204 Two Acrobats in Red Tights (w/c on paper) by Demuth, Charles (1883-1935); The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; eBarnes Foundation; American, out of copyright

Harry Houdini, c 1893 (engraving)
5999232 Harry Houdini, c 1893 (engraving) by American Photographer (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Harry Houdini, c 1893. From later reproduction)

Theatrical Costume and Prop Hire Shop, illustration from High Street by J. M
STC411906 Theatrical Costume and Prop Hire Shop, illustration from High Street by J.M. Richards, printed by the Curwen Press, pub

A rehearsal for Thermidor by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908
CHT224225 A rehearsal for Thermidor by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908) 24th January (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (19th century); Bibliotheque de la Comedie Francaise, Paris

Forward Observation Dugout, Festubert, by RBT Kelly, WW1
Forward Observation Dugout, Indian Village, Festubert, June 1915, drawing by Lieutenant Richard Barrett Talbot Kelly, First World War. 1915

Razing a Factory Chimney (b / w photo)
1064147 Razing a Factory Chimney (b/w photo) by English photographer, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Razing a Factory Chimney)

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"Unveiling the Stories: A Glimpse into the World of Props" Step into "My Studio" by Fortunino Matania, where every prop tells a tale. From the coal miner filling his truck in a South Wales mine to Welsh women road builders shaping their nation's future, these props embody resilience and determination. Witness the miner riding drams at Tirpentwys Colliery, capturing the adrenaline-fueled spirit of those who toiled beneath the earth. Feel their sweat and hear their shouts as they work tirelessly in a coal seam, etching their mark on South Wales. Intriguingly, even James Doughty, England's oldest clown, relied on props to bring laughter and joy to audiences. His painted face and oversized shoes held secrets of mirth that transcended time. Political rivalries come alive through Gladstone and Disraeli in 1874; props symbolizing power struggles that shaped nations. Meanwhile, a woman performing as a bus conductor in a comic sketch challenges societal norms with her wit and charm. Travel across continents to Washington D. C. , where the National Air and Space Museum houses iconic artifacts that have inspired generations. These props whisper tales of exploration beyond our earthly boundaries. The RMS Oceanic rests silently in Liverpool's Graving Dock—a majestic vessel once filled with bustling life—its presence evoking memories of voyages embarked upon long ago. Journey back further still to New Cooks Kitchen in Illogan, Cornwall during the late 1800s—an era when culinary creativity bloomed amidst copper pots and wooden spoons—a testament to human ingenuity. Lastly, peer behind closed curtains at Hannah Humphrey's "Dilettanti Theatricals, " revealing an enchanting world backstage where actors' dreams unfold amidst costumes hanging from racks like silent witnesses to artistic endeavors. These diverse props weave together stories spanning centuries—each one offering glimpses into the human experience.