Jersey and Guernsey, Malta and Ceylon stand at the Great Exhibition, 1851.

Illustrated plate taken from Dickinsons' 'Comprehensive Pictures of The Great Exhibition' (1854). Prominent objects on display included stone carvings by F Dimech, F Testa, J Foler and P Degesare from the Ionian Islands, and original designs for statuary in porcelain by T and R Boot of Burslem. The 'Great Exhibition of the Works of the Industry of all Nations' was conceived by Prince Albert (1819-1861). The Crystal Palace was purpose-built to house the exhibits. It was the first large-scale prefabricated ferrovitreous (iron and glas) structure, and was designed by Joseph Paxton (1801-1865). The prefabricated design made the construction, and later dismantling, easier and quicker.