1998.131.590.1 (Film negative)
1998.131.590.1 (Film negative)
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Frederick Spencer Chapman
February 13th 1937
Lhasa > Potala (north path)
1998.131.590.1
61 x 90 neg: 60 x 90
Riding
Negative film nitrate
Donated 1994
Mrs Faith Spencer Chapman
British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37
Frederick Spencer Chapman
A.10 [view film roll]
SC.T.2.590
In Negative - 'A-10' has been scratched into the bottom left hand corner of the negative [MS 03/04/2006]
Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: '2 Geluchy officials and syce (light in)’ [MS 03/04/2006]
Technical Information - Chapman had repeated problems with the Zeiss Super Ikonta camera that he used, indeed they were well-known for having faulty shutters, and in his handlist he states that the original image had 'light in' [see Manual Catalogues]. In other images in this sequence he has cropped the flawed sections of the image but he was clearly not able to do so in this image and the light flash is evident at the top of the negative [MS 03/04/2006]
Other Information - Setting: The Mission as a whole was not invited to this, the 2nd day of the New Year ceremonies at the Potala (although this changed in the 1940s), but Chapman was able to go unofficially to take photographs. Mission Diary entry for February 13th 1937: "Chapman went unofficially to the Potala early this morning to photograph a gorgeously bejewelled costume that is worn by thirteen young officials on this day only. ... // Yesterday was the priestly celebration of the New year: today there is a similar ceremony for laymen. ... On this day only in the year the Shapes and Dzasas must wear the "geluchey" dress with its black pleated skirt, multi-coloured silk brocade coat and white cockle shell hat perched on top of the head. Minor officials wear the usual brightly coloured silk robe reaching almost to the ground, and wide flat topped hats edged with fur. Even the servants wear silk" ['Lhasa Mission, 1936: Diary of Events', Part XIV pp. 4-5, written by Chapman] [MS 03/04/2006]
Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'A' comprise a group of negatives containing images of officials and the Regent riding in ceremonial dress up to the Potala, all of which seem to have been taken on February 13th 1937 [MS 03/04/2006]
Other Information - Location: This series of images en route to the Potala Palace in order that Chapman might take photographs of the ringyen jewels, were taken as Chapman ascended the Potala hill, probably on horseback. The lake behind the Potala can be seen in the background in many pictures revealing Chapman's movements and relative position for each image [MS 07/04/2006]
For Citation use:
The Tibet Album.
"Officials riding up to Potala at New Year"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.590.1.html>.
For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.
© The Pitt Rivers Museum
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