Simonin Collection

19th-century tin mine, Cornwall. Artwork of miners and walkways at the Botallack Copper and Tin Mine at St Just, Cornwall, England. This mine, under various names, dates back to 1721

19th-century gold mining, Australia. Artwork of Chinese workers excavating and washing gold ores at a gold mine in Australia

19th-century coal mining. Historical artwork of a coal mine worker igniting methane gas in a coal mine. This gas (also called fire-damp) is formed naturally by coal

Women climbing ladders to carry coal up a mineshaft, Scotland, in early 19th century
530410 Women climbing ladders to carry coal up a mineshaft, Scotland, in early 19th century. London, 1865 (wood engraving from L)

Engraving of Firearms Ornament, 1693 or 1695. Creator: Claude Simonin
Engraving of Firearms Ornament, 1693 or 1695

Plusievrs Pieces et Ornements Darquebuzerie (4th extended edition), ca. 1776

Early 19th century coal miner working a narrow seam, c1868. The miner, stripped to the waist, is lying on his side and, with a pickaxe, is holing out or scuffling coal

Sinking a mineshaft by Trigers method (1841) devised for use in the difficult conditions of the Basse-Loire coalfield, France. Cast iron cylinders sunk to riverbed

Miners working in a timbered level. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Pit ponies in their underground stable in a coal mine. The ponies were used to haul wagons along the rails in the mine workings. Britain

Mining captain in full ceremonial dress and carrying his baton of office: Saxony, Germany. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Fossilised tree trunks in Treuil coal mine, St Etienne, France. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Cornish miners boring a hole to take a charge of explosive. One miner holds the metal borer upright and the two strikers hit it with sledge hammers until the hole has been made. Cornwall, England

Accident in a mine shaft caused by the engine man at the pit head starting the movement of the rope too sharply and causing the tub to tip over

Miners in the Harz mines, Germany, descending the ladder shaft by the light of an oil lamp. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

A Cornish winze shaft, used for exploration. A man attached to a rope is being lowered down the shaft by a simple windlass. For light the men have nothing more than bare candles stuck in their hats

Miners working metal deposits by means of descending levels, a method practised in Hungary, Saxony and Prussia in the early 19th century

Man-engine or movable ladder adopted in Cornish mines. The movable ladder was powered by the steam engine at the pithead and moved with the regular stroke of the engine

Fontaines safety cage for mine shafts. If the rope or chain suspending the cage broke a spring was released and levers were thrust into the guide rods

Coal miner descending the mine shaft on the looped end of a rope desperately trying to find refuge in an arched niche in the shaft as a fall in the shaft threatens his life

Coal miners, carrying their safety lamps, being lowered down the pit shaft on a chain with stirrups attached. The man the bottom has lost his grip and is in danger of plunging to his death

Scene in a German metalliferous mine just the change of shift. The miners and the women pit-head workers listen while the mine engineer reads prayer

Using a compass to dial the plan of a metalliferous mine, Germany. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Using a long tom to wash for gold in the Californian gold fields. The miners diverted the water courses, then dug out the ore-bearing sands which they washed for gold

Explosion of Fire-damp (methane) in a mine. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Using fire extinguishers to attack a fire in a coal mine. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Miners breaking up rock by setting a fire on it. When the rock cooled it would crack and shatter which made it easy to work with picks

Mine survey in progress. When this was done, rails were lifted and as much metal as possible was removed so as to minimise any influence on the compass

The Penitent, or Fireman. This was the miner who, swathed in damp sacking, undertook the task of igniting pockets of which, the inflammable gas Methane, called Fire-damp which

Miners descending a shaft standing on rim of a tub, holding on to the chains it is hanging by. They are carrying safety lamps

A horse-whim of horse-gin. Such a device was used to raise coal from the bottom of a mine. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

A pit pony being lowered down a mine shaft in the Creuzot coalfield, France. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Coal tubs colliding in a pit shaft leaving the men riding on them holding on for their lives. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Searching for coal by boring, Pas de Calais Coalfield, France. Changing the rods on a boring machine machine powered by a steam engine

Engineers in leather clothing descending the shaft at Creuzot coal mine to examine the pumps. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

Miners in a metal mine, Campiglia, Tuscany, Italy, working in a stope. The men on the platform are excavating the vein of ore which is being carried away in baskets

Mine working in the South Staffordshire Coalfield, England. In this thick seam pillars of coal have been left to support the roof

Miners in Chihuahua, Mexico, ascending a mineshaft by means of crude steps carrying candles attached to sticks to light their way. Descending and ascending such shafts was a daily hazard

Working metal deposits at Stolberg, Prussia, Germany, in direct or descending steps. The miners are working by the light of oil lamps with naked flames as in metal mines there was none of

Mule train carrying diamonds mined in Brazil being escorted by a military guard. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin (London, 1869). Wood engraving

19th-century mining machine. Artwork of the rock- boring machine invented and patented by George Low and manufactured by E. R. and F. Turner of Ipswich, England

19th-century Native American mine worker. Artwork of a Native American miner in the Lake Superior area of the northern USA. This American Indian is shown with his stone hammer and in mining costume

19th-century gold mining, California. Artwork of miners using a high-pressure water hose to break up a hillside containing gold ore, in California, USA

19th-century mining. Historical artwork of miners in a graphite mine. Graphite is a form of carbon that is mined for a wide variety of uses, such as in pencils, and as an industrial lubricant

19th-century step mining, Prussia. Artwork of miners excavating ore using the technique of step mining. This involves extracting the mineral- containing ore by carving a series of steps out of

Heavy metal minerals. Historical artwork of some of the minerals of zinc and tin, as found in 19th- century mines. The minerals and where they were mined from are: smithsonite (containing zinc)

Miners and their wives, 19th century
Miners and their wives, 19th-century artwork. The role of women in coal mining varied over time from country to country. By 1842, women and children were banned from working in coal mines in the UK

Coal mine fire, 19th century
Coal mine fire. 19th-century artwork of a team of firefighters trying to extinguish a fire in a coal mine. They are using a fire extinguisher that is designed to use water charged under pressure with

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Simonin, a name that echoes through the annals of history, is intertwined with the fascinating world of mining. From the 19th-century tin mines of Cornwall to the coal mines that dotted the landscape, Simonin's legacy spans continents and centuries. In Australia's gold rush era, Simonin's influence was felt as prospectors sought their fortunes in shimmering rivers and dusty hillsides. The allure of precious metals captivated many souls, driving them to venture into uncharted territories in search of wealth beyond imagination. But Simonin's talents extended far beyond mining alone. An engraving from 1693 or 1695 showcases his skillful craftsmanship in firearms ornamentation. His intricate designs brought life to cold steel, turning weapons into works of art. The realm of darquebuzerie also fell under Simonin's purview. In ca. 1776, he contributed to "Plusievrs Pieces et Ornements Darquebuzerie, " an extended edition filled with exquisite pieces and ornamental wonders that delighted connoisseurs around the world. As time marched on, so did technological advancements in mining techniques. A glimpse into c1868 reveals an early 19th-century coal miner diligently working a narrow seam using primitive tools and sheer determination. Meanwhile, Trigers method revolutionized mine shaft sinking in 1841 – a testament to human ingenuity overcoming challenging conditions underground. Louis Simonin immortalized miners' lives through his work "Underground Life: or Mines and Miners. " Within its pages lies a vivid depiction of miners laboring away amidst timbered levels while pit ponies patiently awaited their call for duty below ground – stalwart companions hauling loads unimaginable for mere mortals. Not limited by borders or boundaries, Simonin left his mark across Europe as well. A mining captain from Saxony donned full ceremonial dress while carrying his baton of office – symbolizing authority over operations that shaped the region's industrial landscape.