Slaughter House Collection

Isometric View of the New Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855 (colour litho)
XCF276461 Isometric View of the New Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855 (colour litho) by English School; Private Collection; (add.info.: Copenhagen Fields; Caledonian Market; ); English

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Abattoir; Slaughter-house; Schlachthaus (engraving)
7194589 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Abattoir; Slaughter-house; Schlachthaus (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Abattoir; Slaughter-house; Schlachthaus)

The Butcher and the Sheep from The Pilgrims Progress From This World
5615844 The Butcher and the Sheep from The Pilgrims Progress From This World, To That Which Is To Come by John Bunyan (1628-1688) illustration by William Strang (1859-1921)

Fol. 74v The Butcher s: Pig Meat, illustration from Tacuinum Santiatis Codex Vindobonensis (vellum)
ALI142963 Fol.74v The Butcher s: Pig Meat, illustration from Tacuinum Santiatis Codex Vindobonensis (vellum) by Italian School, (14th century); Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna

Leadenhall Slaughter House, from the West, 1870-90 (b / w photo)
5917339 Leadenhall Slaughter House, from the West, 1870-90 (b/w photo) by Wormald, Edward (fl.1858-88); Leeds Museums and Art Galleries (Abbey House Museum) UK; (add.info)

The Ox in the slaughter house moans... plate 26 from
XYC256912 The Ox in the slaughter house moans... plate 26 from The First Book of Urizen, 1794 (colour-printed relief etching with ink and w/c on paper) by Blake

Farm Buildings at Liscard, Cheshire (engraving)
1096604 Farm Buildings at Liscard, Cheshire (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Farm Buildings at Liscard, Cheshire)

Postcard depicting the stock yards & abattoirs of Chicago
CHT189399 Postcard depicting the stock yards & abattoirs of Chicago and workers with lunch pails on their break in Whiskey Row, c.1910 (coloured photo) by American School

Germany, Bamberg. Historic old livestock building & slaughterhouse

Argentina, Azul, early examples of contemporary architecture by Francisco Salamone; slaughterhause, the tower bears a knife blade in the middle

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING, 1878. Cutting up hogs at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, Illinois. Wood engraving, American, 1878

SLAUGHTERING HOGS. An American slaughterhouse. Line engraving, 19th century

BUTCHERS. Interior of a mid-17th century French butcher shop. Contemporary French engraving

Slaughterhouse Bridge, Mendoza, Argentina
The Slaughterhouse Bridge (Puente Matadero) at Mendoza, Argentina. Date: 1915

Manchester Ship Canal - Butchered carcases awaiting distribu
A warehouse alongside the Manchester Ship Canal with rank upon rank of hanging beef caracasses awaiting transportation by train to London

Manchester Ship Canal - Beef Carcasses for London
A chalk scrawl on the wagon door records that 1000 beef carcasses were transported in these wagons from the offload on the Manchester Ship Canal down to final destination of Smithfield Market, London

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"The Slaughter House: A Glimpse into the Dark Reality of Meat Production" Step back in time and explore the haunting world of slaughterhouses through a collection of captivating images. From an isometric view of the New Metropolitan Cattle Market in 1855 to a wood engraving depicting hogs being cut up at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, these glimpses into history shed light on an industry often hidden from public view. One engraving transports us to Cawnpore, where the infamous massacre took place within the walls of a slaughterhouse. The image serves as a chilling reminder of the violence that can occur within these walls, both towards animals and humans alike. Le Vocabulaire Illustre brings us face-to-face with abattoirs from around the world, showcasing their architectural diversity. From France to Germany and Argentina, each structure tells its own story about how different cultures approach this necessary but controversial aspect of food production. In literature, even renowned works like "The Pilgrim's Progress" feature scenes involving butchers and sheep. These illustrations remind us that slaughterhouses have long been woven into our collective consciousness as symbols of sacrifice and mortality. Moving away from engravings, we catch glimpses through photographs too. Leadenhall Slaughter House stands tall in black-and-white imagery from 1870-90 while postcards depict bustling stockyards and abattoirs in Chicago during its meatpacking heyday. Yet amidst all this darkness lies hope for change. Historic livestock buildings transformed into modern spaces show how society evolves alongside our understanding of animal welfare. Francisco Salamone's contemporary architecture examples in Azul, Argentina demonstrate innovative approaches to blending functionality with aesthetics. As we ponder upon these images spanning centuries and continents, let us not shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths about our relationship with animals for sustenance. The ox moans inside the slaughterhouse.