Reting Rinpoche riding up to Potala at New Year
1998.131.591 (Film negative)
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Key Information
Photographer
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Collection
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Date of Photo
February 13th 1937
Named Person
Region
Lhasa > Potala (north path)
Accession number
1998.131.591
Image Dimensions
125 x 99
Further Information
Activity
Riding
Photographic Process
Copy Negative , Enlargement
Date Acquired
Donated 1994
Donated by
Mrs Faith Spencer Chapman
Expedition
British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37
Photo also owned by
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Previous Catologue Number
A.6 [view film roll]
Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number
SC.T.2.591
This Image also appears in another collection
1998.131.589.1
Other Information
Technical Information - This negative is a relatively recent duplicate negative made from the original image 1998.131.589. It is an enlargement of the central part of the image which thus concentrates attention on the Regent in the centre of the frame [MS 03/04/2006]
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]: 'Regent and servants riding up to Potala'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 3: ‘1/1 - The Regent and his monk attendants riding up to the Potala for New Year celebrations (Feb. 1937)’ [MS 03/04/2006]
Other Information - Setting
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
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.
"Reting Rinpoche riding up to Potala at New Year"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.591.html>.
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