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
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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