4126 - China

China Photographer unknown. Documentation of the construction of the first Chinese iron and steel factory in Hankow-Hanjang (Wuhan), China, under the supervision of the German company Dingler AG. 1906–09. 12 collodion paper prints and 5 gelatin silver prints. Most are approximately 21 x 28 cm; some are smaller. One is mounted on original studio board; some are annotated and dated in German in ink on the reverse. An extensive collection documenting the construction of an early Chinese iron and steel works under the supervision of the German company Dingler AG. The photographs show various stages of construction, including unfinished blast furnaces, the interior of the central steam engine building, and a general view of the foundations with three Chinese architects and the German construction manager on site. The collection also includes a view of Hankow Harbor, offering further insight into the region’s industrial development in the early 20th century. – Some prints have creases and surface scratches; some have soil stains; otherwise, most are in good condition.