Late 19th-century French wooden studio camera tripod

This late 19th-century French wooden photographer's tripod features a substantial and ornate base with curved supports, elevating it beyond typical utilitarian designs of the period. Constructed of solid wood, it incorporates a screw-driven mechanism with a hand crank, allowing for vertical adjustment of the upper platform. The top surface, designed to support a large format or plate camera, appears to have metal brackets for securing the equipment, while a storage compartment below likely held accessories such as glass plates, film holders, or tools. Likely oak with a varnished finish.

Tripods of this type were used in professional photography studios to stabilize heavy cameras, particularly those used for portrait photography. The adjustable height and sturdy construction were essential for long exposure times required by early photographic processes such as wet-plate collodion and albumen printing. The wide, stable base ensured minimal vibration, and the wheeled foot helped reposition the equipment smoothly. The condition is timeworn, with visible wear, surface patina, and some losses to the wood and metal hardware, indicative of its extended use. Despite these signs of age, it remains a remarkable example of late 19th-century photographic equipment, reflecting the craftsmanship and ingenuity of early studio photography.