Raja Taring's syce

Raja Taring's syce

BMH.F.47.1 (Film negative)

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Key Information

Photographer

Arthur Hopkinson

Collection

A. J. Hopkinson

Date of Photo

January 28th 1928?

Region

Gyantse > Fort

Accession number

BMH.F.47.1

Image Dimensions

112 x 85

The syce or groom of Raja Taring. Photographed here at the Agency residence at the Fort . Hopkinson established a very good relationship with the Taring family and regularly dined with them. Many British officials were struck by the costume worn by syce, especially their tie-dyed chuba which were lined with snow leopard fur. Here, the elaborately ornamental earrings worn can also be seen

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Expedition

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

Other Information

In Negative - 'F-47' has been written on the bottom of the negative in blue-black ink [MS 11/08/2006]

Notes on print/mount - One contact print made from this negative is contained in A. J. Hopkinson's negative case with the negative. The print was made using Velox paper. 'F.47' has been written on the back of the print in pencil, as well as the name 'A. J. Hopkinson' [MS 11/08/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - [Caption in A. J. Hopkinson's negative album 'Tibet F']: 'Tering's at lunch' [MS 05/05/2006]

Other Information - Description: [Extract from taped interview, Richard Blurton and Mrs Hopkinson] '47 - Raja Taring's syce; he wears silver and turquoise earrings. The cloth of his chuba is a heavy dark red woolen cloth, with tie-dye decoration, and edged with snow leopard' [MS 10/08/2006]

Other Information - Dates


Other Information - Dates: This photograph may have been taken on January 28th 1928. Hopkinson wrote in his journal letters for this date that the Taring’s came to play football but were prevented by a dust storm so played roulette instead: “Mrs Pemba wore a Lhassa headdress and Miss Tering a Gyantse one. Tering and his boys are just off to Lhassa for the New Year, and I am giving Jigme some money to buy curios on my behalf” [A. J. Hopkinson Archive, OIOC British Library, Mss Eur D998/54, Journal Letters from Gyantse and Various Camps, 1927-28, commencing January 25th 1928, Gyantse, page 6]. Although Hopkinson dined with the Taring's on a number of occasions, this dating corresponds with the sequence of images that seems to exist in Hopkinson's negative album labelled 'F' in the British Museum Collection [MS 12/08/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Raja Taring's syce " 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMH.F.47.1.html>.

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