Servants Collection

Heath Robinson automated Dining Room without servants 1 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Dining-Room. A family at their dining table, which is a typically Heath Robinson design

Heath Robinson Kitchen 3 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Kitchen. A busy Kitchen, which is a typically Heath Robinson design, with a system of pulleys

Too Many Cooks by Lawson Wood
A policeman on the beat around a smart London square appears to be blissfully unaware of the cooks emerging from each house to gaze adoringly at him

Jeeves and Wooster
In Thank You Jeeves!, Jeeves gives notice when Bertie Wooster, his employer, insists on playing the banjolele

Heath Robinson Drawing Room 2 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Drawing-Room. A family in the Drawing Room, which is a typically Heath Robinson design

The Harem, 1876. Creator: John Frederick Lewis
The Harem, 1876

Manuscript Leaf with Opening of The Book of Nehemias, from a Bible, French, ca. 1280-1300. Artaxerxes kneels before the king receiving permission to make a journey

London & South Western Railway Servants Orphanage, Woking
General view of the main building of the London & South Western Railway Servants Orphanage at Woking, Surrey. The orphanage was founded in 1885 in Clapham, south west London

Heath Robinson Bedroom 4 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Bedroom. A bedroom, which is a typically Heath Robinson design, with a system of pulleys

Housemaid Carries Coals
The housemaid brings up a scuttle full of coal

Dinner in an aristocratic French home, with servants attending to everyones needs

Victorian family group - Rodbourne House, Wiltshire
A Victorian family group and servants pose in the garden of Rodbourne House, St Paul Malmesbury Without, Wiltshire. This fine house was the home of the Hungerford Pollens who had an active interest

Aristocratic French lady bathing and dressing
An aristocratic French lady is helped by her maids to bathe and dress

Warrior and attendants (bronze) (see also 412916)
DBP412917 Warrior and attendants (bronze) (see also 412916) by Benin, (17th century); height: 54 cm; Private Collection; Photo eDirk Bakker; African, out of copyright

Old Maid card - Butler. circa 1940s

Three women with a dog at an open window
Three women with a Jack Russell terrier at an open window. Date: circa 1900s

Dicing for Maids Money at Guildford, Surrey. Miss Ruth Claxton throwing the winning dice ( and taking the smaller amount )

Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Series: Tour of the New Yoshiwara

St Catherine of Sienna negotiating with Pope Gregory XI on behalf of the Florentines (litho)
1074496 St Catherine of Sienna negotiating with Pope Gregory XI on behalf of the Florentines (litho) by Fortescue-Brickdale

Maharao Umed Singh hunting tigers, 1787. Creator: Hans Raj Joshi
Maharao Umed Singh hunting tigers, 1787

Cortes destroying his fleet. Colored engraving
Hernan Cortes (1488-1547). Spanish conqueror of Mexico. Cortes destroying his fleet, moored in the Villa Rica of the Vera Cruz, to prevent defections among his crew. Volume I. Engraving by J

Sophia Farrell and maids, 1899 (b / w photo)
XJF391585 Sophia Farrell and maids, 1899 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sophia Farrell (dates unknown), shown standing on the right

Moment of Departure - all the staff line up to say Goodbye
A quite wonderful German postcard illustrating the Moment of Departure - all the staff line up to say Goodbye! Date: circa 1910s

British Consulate, Beirut, Lebanon Date: circa 1910s

Syntax Star-Gazing
Dr Syntax shows a lady the stars through a telescope, while the butler trips over a dog on the stairs and drops his tray of crockery

Exhausted Footman
An exhausted footman, reflected in a dressing table mirror, rests his weary head in his hands and ruminates on the lot of an Edwardian servant

Serving Maid / Chocolate
A serving maid carries a cup of chocolate and a glass of water on a tray

Model Maid-Of-All-Work
The model maid of all work is kept busy in the scullery cleaning boots, boiling kettles and pans, and responding to the bells that are constantly rung for her

Amorous Footman
AMOROUS FOOTMAN - James, I saw you kiss one of the maids. - When would that have been, my lady ? - About four o clock. - Oh yes, my lady, that would be Jane

Running Footmen
I am the only Running Footman - sign of a pub in Charles Street, near Berkeley Square

Housemaids Skirts
Mistress to maid : - Julie, you shouldn t wear such tight skirts, you are showing far too much leg

James Chuma and Abdullah Susi with David Livingstone artefacts, Newstead Abbey, England
622820 James Chuma and Abdullah Susi with David Livingstone artefacts, Newstead Abbey, England, June 1874 (albumen print) by Allen, R

Downstairs servants of a country house
Group photo, downstairs servants of a country house. circa 1900

Her Royal Highness, Princess Royal and her four sisters
Morning Amusements -- Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766-1828), and her four sisters (Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia), all daughters of King George III

Esther feasts with the king, by Tissot - Bible
3783490 Esther feasts with the king, by Tissot - Bible by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (1836-1902) (after); (add.info.: Esther feasts with the king by J James Tissot)

Jacob Wainwright with Livingstones coffin, London, 1874 (albumen print)
622822 Jacob Wainwright with Livingstones coffin, London, 1874 (albumen print) by Elliott & Fry Studio (fl.1860-90); 6.1x9.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: David Livingstone (1813-73)

Pilate Washing His Hands, 1663. Creator: Mattia Preti
Pilate Washing His Hands, 1663

Servants at Reipole House, Loch Sunart, Argyll, Scotland
Group of six servants at Reipole House, Loch Sunart, Argyll, Scotland. circa 1895

The Graphic Christmas Number front cover 1932
Front cover of The Graphic Christmas Number for 1932 with an illustration of a lively medieval banquet, with a jester ushering an enormous boars head on a platter. Date: 1932

King James I feasting with Spanish ambassadors
King James I of England (and VI of Scotland) feasting with Spanish ambassadors

Roman Ladies Party
Three Roman ladies partying, while servants play music and fill their beakers

MILK BELOW
In Londons Cavendish Square the milk-woman cries Milk below ! to the servants in the basements of the houses

School for Butlers
Trainee butlers take notes as their teacher points to a blackboard diagram, explaining the correct way to carve lamb

Butler and Tray
The butler brings a packet of cigarettes on a tray

Gulliver / Servants / Lillip
He is given six hundred servants to wait on him

Electric Rail Dinner
Still another use for electricity: a miniature railway that brings food from the pantry to the table, removing the need for contact with troublesome servants

German Deer Hunt C16
A German nobleman hunts the deer - he is on a horse, his servants are on foot, with a bunch of ferocious-looking dogs

Indian Sweeper
A sweeper, Punjab

Indian Dirzi 1891
A dirzi (tailor) Punjab

Indian Grass Cutter
Grass cutter Punjab

A Man and his Man
A man... and his man

Dinner, Servants Hall
Dinner in the servants hall of a large household : the butler presides, with housekeeper, ladys maids, housemaids and footmen ranged in order of seniority

Specimens of evolution at a grand dinner
The survival of the fittest -- specimens of evolution take part in a grand dinner. The handsome and the clever walk arm in arm, watched by many servants

Sedan chair palanquin with bearers, China c. 1870 s
Chinese sedan chair or palanquin with bearers, China c.1870 s

18th century military tents by rank
18th century military tents: tent poles 1, privates tent 2, , fly tent 3, 4, officers marquis 5, subalterns tent 6, captains tent with chimney 7, field officers marquis 9, servants tent 10

Portrait of Count Fulvio Grati, 1720. Creator: Giuseppe Maria Crespi
Portrait of Count Fulvio Grati, 1720

The Cook, 1657. Creator: Gabriel Metsu
The Cook, 1657. A cook in her workplace, showing us a dish with two fish. The figure stands out against a dark background in which we can barely make out the shaft of a high oven at which she is

Illustration depicting a statute fair, where servants could be hired by wealthy families, 1790 (engraving)
5616468 Illustration depicting a statute fair, where servants could be hired by wealthy families, 1790 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG

Raja or noble ruler with servants, 1828
3480369 Raja or noble ruler with servants, 1828; (add.info.: French lithograph of Raja or noble ruler with servants; India, By Marlet 1828.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Carriage of the Kong Tchou, the Qing Emperor's eldest daughter. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea
FLO4590372 Carriage of the Kong Tchou, the Qing Emperor's eldest daughter. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin

Native lady riding in her curtained palkee (palanquin), borne by two servants in loincloth and turban
FLO4565427 Native lady riding in her curtained palkee (palanquin), borne by two servants in loincloth and turban. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by an unknown artist from " Asiatic Costumes

Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC
3329571 Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC; (add.info.: Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC)

The horse show
2909933 The horse show; (add.info.: The horse show. Battle in front of a palace. Print shows a confusion of men and horses passing in front of steps possibly leading to a palace during a horse show)

British emigrant ship being towed out of harbour before setting sail for Sydney, Australia. Wood engraving 1852
530554 British emigrant ship being towed out of harbour before setting sail for Sydney, Australia. Wood engraving 1852.; (add.info)

Illustration of an oriental camel train with servants and carriage
5306315 Illustration of an oriental camel train with servants and carriage. by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); Universal History Archive/UIG

Tartar woman riding on a one-wheel barrow drawn by servants. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after
FLO4590144 Tartar woman riding on a one-wheel barrow drawn by servants. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin

The interior of an Employment Bureau
5616096 The interior of an Employment Bureau; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting the interior of an Employment Bureau for domestic servants. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1876); Universal History Archive/UIG

Chinese mandarin's barge. The mandarin takes lunch in the cabin waited on by servants
FLO4722525 Chinese mandarin's barge. The mandarin takes lunch in the cabin waited on by servants. The two umbrellas are a sign of his authority

Indian Nawab, (Mughal prince)
3522690 Indian Nawab, (Mughal prince); (add.info.: Indian Nawab, (Mughal prince) with servants as they prepare to set out on a tiger hunting exhibition. C1650); Universal History Archive/UIG

Musicians accompany two men eating, attended by three servants, 1880
1574417 Musicians accompany two men eating, attended by three servants, 1880; (add.info.: Drawing shows two older gentlemen seated at the head of a table being served by three young servants while)

A Social Sketch, or Everything in Common 1850. Satirical print of social unrest after a revolution
FLO4995416 A Social Sketch, or Everything in Common 1850. Satirical print of social unrest after a revolution. A black banjo player attacked by the men of the house for talking to a lady

A British soldier having his daily bath or musshach
6317621 A British soldier having his daily bath or musshach; (add.info.: A British soldier having his daily bath or musshach, so called after the skin in which the water is carried)

Servants with dogs and hawks belonging to the King of Oudh
3521245 Servants with dogs and hawks belonging to the King of Oudh; (add.info.: Servants with dogs and hawks belonging to the King of Oudh. Dated 18th Century); Universal History Archive/UIG

A lady ringing a bell, 1850
3478452 A lady ringing a bell, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a lady ringing a bell to call a servant to the drawing room. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Cherry-viewing at Gotenyama
2909867 Cherry-viewing at Gotenyama; (add.info.: Cherry-viewing at Gotenyama. Print shows a woman helping another woman get out of a sedan chair, and another woman standing behind the chair)

Tomorrow's snow
2909819 Tomorrow's snow; (add.info.: Tomorrow's snow. Print shows an upper class woman standing near a well and two women, possibly servants, getting water at the well)

Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC
3329569 Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC; (add.info.: Cast of palace doorway from Persepolis, Iran, circa 470-450 BC)

Illustration depicting a March fair, where servants could be hired by wealthy families, 1790 (engraving)
5616458 Illustration depicting a March fair, where servants could be hired by wealthy families, 1790 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG

French colonial plantation owner's daughter, is carried by servants on a litter Vietnam, 1895 (b/w photo)
5672147 French colonial plantation owner's daughter, is carried by servants on a litter Vietnam, 1895 (b/w photo); Universal History Archive/UIG

Welsh men, women and children at a Hollantide fair
5616095 Welsh men, women and children at a Hollantide fair; (add.info.: Illustration depicting Welsh men, women, and children at a Hollantide fair, a hiring fair)

Woman at her toilet, after Henri Lerolle. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by
1000866 Woman at her toilet, after Henri Lerolle. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs, published 1909.; Private Collection

Criminal being punished with the Bastinado, or whipping acoss the thighs with a whip or bamboo cane. Qing Dynasty
FLO4590602 Criminal being punished with the Bastinado, or whipping acoss the thighs with a whip or bamboo cane. Qing Dynasty

Sedan chair of the Prime Minister, Grand Colao, Qing Dynasty China, late 18th century
FLO4590298 Sedan chair of the Prime Minister, Grand Colao, Qing Dynasty China, late 18th century. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon

Black servants balance the sail on a French colonial yacht, 1890
3478477 Black servants balance the sail on a French colonial yacht, 1890; (add.info.: Two black servants balance the sail on a French colonial yacht off the West African Coast during rough seas)

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"Unveiling the Evolution of Servitude: From Heath Robinson's Automated Dining Room to Jeeves and Wooster" Step into a world where they were an integral part of daily life, only to be replaced by ingenious contraptions and fictional butlers. In this captivating journey through time, we explore the fascinating realm of "servants, " not just as individuals but as symbols of societal change. Heath Robinson's automated dining room (1 of 4) transports us to an era when technology aimed to liberate aristocrats from the clutches of servitude. With intricate mechanisms and whimsical inventions, Robinson envisioned a future where humans would no longer rely on human assistance for their every need. Moving into his kitchen (3 of 4), we witness the birth of labor-saving devices that promised efficiency without sacrificing taste. Too Many Cooks by Lawson Wood captures the chaotic scene in which modernity clashes with tradition, highlighting society's struggle to adapt to these new advancements. But amidst this mechanical revolution, one cannot forget iconic duos like Jeeves and Wooster who embodied both loyalty and wit. These beloved characters remind us that even in a world devoid of traditional servants, there will always be a place for personal valets who can navigate any social predicament with finesse. Robinson's drawing room (2 of 4) showcases opulence intertwined with automation—a glimpse into how grandeur could coexist with technological marvels. Manuscript Leaf with Opening from The Book of Nehemias reminds us that service extends beyond household chores; it encompasses spiritual guidance too. Beyond domestic settings lies London & South Western Railway Servants Orphanage in Woking—an institution dedicated to supporting those left behind by their caretakers' untimely departure. It serves as a poignant reminder that while servants may fade away, their impact on society remains indelible.