Dancers at Gyantse Fort

Dancers at Gyantse Fort

BMH.C.83.1 (Film negative)

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Key Information

Photographer

Arthur Hopkinson

Collection

A. J. Hopkinson

Date of Photo

1927 - 1928. July 1927?

Region

Gyantse > Fort

Accession number

BMH.C.83.1

Image Dimensions

85 x 110

A group of masked dancers performing at the Fort where officers associated with the British Trade Agency resided.

Further Information

Activity

Performing

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Expedition

A. J. Hopkinson's Tour of Duty as British Trade Agent, Gyantse, 1927-28

Other Information

In Negative - 'C-83' has been written in blue-black ink down the right edge of the negative. The negative has been cut very crudely down the left edge [MS 13/07/2006]

Notes on print/mount - Two contact prints made from this negative are contained in A. J. Hopkinson's negative case with the negative. One of the prints bears the caption " 'Ache-Lhamos' - Popular strolling players - They even visit Darjeeling" along with the references 'C 83' and 'H 6'. The other bears the same number references and the caption 'Aji Hlamo'. All inscriptions have been written on the back of the prints in pencil [MS 13/07/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - [Caption in A. J. Hopkinson's negative album 'Tibet C']: 'ACHE LHAMOS' [MS 28/04/2006]

Other Information - Description: [Extract from taped interview, Richard Blurton and Mrs Hopkinson] 'Ditto [The Ache Lhamos dances, in courtyard at Gyantse], standing, figure with wand is reciting, chanting' [MS 13/07/2006]

Other Information - Dates


Other Information - Dates: It is not certain when exactly this photograph was taken as Hopkinson makes no mention of these dancers in his journals. However, he does mention seeing some Ache Lhamo performances elsewhere in July 1927 and it was sometimes the case that British officers made invitations to such performers, especially small wandering troupes, to visit their residences in order to photograph them [see notes on Bell Collection]. However, these kind of performers would also be a relatively common sight as they toured the countryside to put on their plays. In the notes for BMH.C.87.1 however, Mrs Hopkinson suggests that they may have been in Gyantse in readiness for the annual Gun and Arrow Shooting competition, which took place on June 21st in 1927 [MS 13/07/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Dancers at Gyantse Fort" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMH.C.83.1.html>.

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