Skilled Gallery

Dom Perignon, French monk known for wine-making

Dom Perignon (1638-1715), French Benedictine monk who is often (incorrectly) credited with the invention of sparkling champagne. He pioneered many wine production methods in his home region of Champagne, while serving as cellarer at the Abbey of Hautvillers. Seen here seated (right), old and blind, demonstrating his ability to select different grapes to give the best results.
circa 1910s

© The Roseries Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Type founders making printing type in a workshop

Type founders making printing type in a workshop. The caster pours hot metal into letter moulds and then throws the letters to a polisher who sits at a polishing stone. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts, Tabart, London, 1810. Date:

© Florilegius/Mary Evans

Arts, Book, Caster, English, Engraving, Font, Founder, Handcoloured, Hot, Letter, Library, Metal, Mould, Occupation, Polisher, Printing, Skilled, Stone, The, Trades, Type, Useful, Woodcut, Work, Workshop

Shipwright driving wedges into the stern of a ship

Shipwright or ship's carpenter standing on a scaffold and driving wedges into the stern of a ship with a wooden trunnel. At his feet, his auger, axe and punch. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts, Tabart, London, 1810. Date:

© Florilegius/Mary Evans

Arts, Auger, Axe, Book, Carpenter, English, Engraving, Handcoloured, Hull, Library, Occupation, Port, Punch, Sail, Scaffold, Ship, Ships, Shipwright, Skilled, Stern, The, Trades, Trunnel, Useful, Wedge, Woodcut, Wooden, Work