Key Information

Photographer

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Collection

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Date of Photo

September 3rd 1936

Region

Lhasa

Accession number

1998.131.270

Image Dimensions

118 x 170 mm

Willow trees in the marsh behind the Potala Palace. Trees are reflected in the water of the flooded marsh. Mountains rising in the distance from the edge of the plain

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Date Acquired

Donated 1994

Donated by

Faith Spencer Chapman

Expedition

British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37

Photo also owned by

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Previous Catologue Number

CS.30 [view film roll]

Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number

SC.T.2.270

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - 'C S 30' has been written across the back of the print in pencil. The annotation '[OG 13]' has been written in pencil down the right hand side of the back of the image. [MS 18/2/2005]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: 'Willows in marsh behind Potala'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 1, From Gangtok to the Natu La August 1936: ‘34/1 - Curious twisted willows in Snake Temple grounds [MS 16/03/2006]

Other Information - Related Images

Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'CS.' comprise a group of negatives containing images of patients from Dr Morgan’s hospital, Mir Khan [Mission cook], curio sellers, bookshops, street scenes, Jokhang, willows and Chapman. It seems likely that they were all taken on the same day, September 3rd 1936. On this day the Mission visited the Jokhang temple and it states in the diary that the trip TRIP ENABLed THEM TO SEE THE CITY STREETS. Many of these images were subsequently used to illustrate the Mission Diary in early October when there were few formal activities to keep the Mission members officially preoccupied. Richardson states in the Diary entry for October 7th 1936, which the 'C-S-'prefixed images illustrate, that it was a quiet time in which the Mission members were able to pursue some of their own interests: "No engagements. We seem to have come into quiet times and can each return to his respective occupation. Mr Gould, Norbhu and Richardson to their files, Chapman to sorting cinema films and flowers and to writing up bird notes; Dagg and Nepean to overhauling wireless and electrical equipment; and Morgan to his hospital where in a dingy Tibetan room (rather like a stable) lighted by and open well in the roof, he removes cataracts, amputates fingers, gives injections and performs the many other mysteries of his profession. ... No engagements and nothing to record" [MS 26/3/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Willow trees in marsh behind Potala Palace" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.270.html>.

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