Stereoviews were immensely popular from the mid-1850s until the early 20th century, creating a new commercial outlet for photographers. While views were initially the property of particular photographers and publishers, some high-volume images such as this view of the House Chamber were pirated by unknown makers. Objects with damage to the photographic plates and lacking a publisher's name are hallmarks of the practice. This pirated image of the House Chamber showed the elaborate Renaissance Revival–style furniture designed for the room, the marble Speaker’s rostrum, and the historic George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette portraits.
