Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

Mid-late 1940s? c.1946?

Region

Lhasa > Trapshi

Accession number

2001.59.3.28.2

Image Dimensions

60 X 85 mm

A member of the cavalry dressed in ancient armour, a plumed helmet of peacock feathers at the time of Trapshi Tsisher. His horse is also decorated with a plume.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print silver

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Other Information

Notes on print - 'Cavalry at Tsi sher' (in pencil) is written on the reverse of print in Richardson's hand. [KC 28/7/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Richardson's hand list: Negative album No.1 'New Year Ceremonies at Lhasa' [nos. 1 -16] ' The Grwa bzhi (or Phyi) bsher [typed and] 'Rtsis bsher' handwritten in Richardson's hand. "This is a review of the rta-dmag , the old feudal cavalry of whom each noble family had to provide a detachment. It takes place on the sandy plain near the army barracks at Grwa-bzhi on the 23rd of the Tibetan 1st month.
No 13-16. More of the different detachment". [KC 15/7/2006]

Technical Information - This image seems to have been taken with a Zeiss Super Ikonta C camera. This was a 6x9 format camera but came with a film plane mask that enabled 6x4.5 images to be taken. This enabled 16 images to be taken on a roll of 120 film as opposed to 8 without the mask [MS 6/10/2005]

Other Information - Background: See Hugh E. Richardson, Ceremonies of the Lhasa Year , 1993, London: Serindia Publications, pp 31-37 for a description of the preparations and the actual day of the Review at Trapshi. The cavalry wear "chain-mail, much of it mere remnants, steel breast plates, steel helmets with brocade lappets and peacock plumes, heavy cloth trousers decorated with blue devices, and special boots. ..." (p. 34) [KC 15/7/2006] "When it [the Review] is all over there is a wholesale distribution of scarves to the participants and a stack of packages is arranged in front of the Kashag's tent containing presents of silk, cloth and tea for the Yaso and other officials." (p.37) [KC 15/7/2006]

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: In a letter to his parents dated November 6th 1936, Hugh Richardson commented that he was investigating buying a new Zeiss Super Ikonta camera [Hugh Richardson Manuscript Archive, Bodleian Library, MS. Or. Richardson 3 folio 46]. On March 29th 1937 he comments in a further letter to his parents that it would probaby be better to use the larger image frame [MS Or Richardson 3 folio 82]. This has assisted the dating of this image to 1937 [MS 6/10/2005]
No 13-16. More of the different detachment".

Kapsho's Team

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: Richardson seems to have resumed using 6x9 negatives in the mid-late 1940s and some other prints without brand names, as the contact for this print is, were developed around this time. Also, many of the images in this group of contact prints seem to have been taken at Sonam Wangchuk’s residence prior to this event, suggesting that they were taken later in Richardson’s residence in Lhasa rather than earlier, when he would usually attend such events as the guest of government. Other 6x9 contact prints without brand names can be identified to 1946 [MS 19/12/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Horseman dressed in ancient armour at Trapshi Tsisher" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.3.28.2.html>.

For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.