No scan for this photo
2001.59.1.15.2 (Print)
2001.59.1.15.2 (Print)
Hugh E. Richardson
Hugh Richardson
March 5th 1937
Lhasa > Trapshi
2001.59.1.15.2
116 x 90 mm
Riding
Print silver , Enlargement
Donated August 2001
The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson
Hugh E. Richardson
Notes on print - 'Cavalry at Tsi sher' (in pencil) is written on the reverse of print in Richardsn's hand. [KC 28/7/2006]
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: 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]
For Citation use:
The Tibet Album.
"Cavalry wearing ancient armour at Trapshi Tsisher"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.1.15.2.html>.
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