1998.131.592.1 (Contact Print)
1998.131.592.1 (Contact Print)
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Frederick Spencer Chapman
February 13th 1937
Lhasa > Potala
1998.131.592.1
60 x 91
Print gelatin silver
Donated 1994
Mrs Faith Spencer Chapman
British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37
Frederick Spencer Chapman
A.14 [view film roll]
SC.T.2.592
BMR.86.1.54.2
Notes on print/mount - The contact print has been printed out using Velox paper and the trade name can be seen on the back of the print in an oval. The batch development number '640' has been printed on the back in red. [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]: '1/2 Three officials in special dress'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 3: ‘10/3 - Three of thirteen young officials in splendid dress for a ceremony on 12th Feb [ sic ] of welcoming New year. Their dresses are supposed to be part of the actual wardrobe of the ancient kings of Tibet. the necklaces are of solid amber and (the other) of coral. The breastplate and earrings are of gold and turquoise. On the right is Kyipup an old Rugbeian’ [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. It is supposed to be the actual raiment worn by the former kings of Tibet. Over somewhat tattered silk robes each wore two long necklaces, one, of amber, each stone being bigger than a golf ball, and the other of coral. In the centre of the breast was a circular gold and turquoise ornament about six inches in diameter. From each side of the head were suspended more ornaments; one, a bar of gold about 18 inches in length studded with a row of ancient Tibetan turquoises so heavy that it had to be supported in the hand. Two of the thirteen who were chosen by the Regent for special ceremonial duties, wore high crowned scarlet hats, while the others wore a smaller silken headdress" ['Lhasa Mission, 1936: Diary of Events', Part XIV p. 4, 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 wearing ringyen dress at New Year"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.592.1.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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