Photo 1043(375)

Genre: Portrait Photography

Portrait of Tsarong Shapé and his wife, seated behind tables on which stand various objects associated with the festivities. 'In the evening we had the privilege of being invited by Tsarong to the third of the main celebrations of the New Year - the family celebration which takes place in the altar room of a private house...The master of the house takes his seat in the best room which contains the family altars before which are now set out the traditional New Year offerings: barley meal, butter ornaments, rice, fried cakes, ram's head fashioned in butter, and pots of green sprouting barley shoots. The master's seat is a canopied divan which varies in height with the rank and dignity of the owner. Beside him on his left sit his wife and children all in their best clothes. If he is of high rank the master will be wearing a robe of yellow silk patterned with Imperial five-clawed dragons, and a round flat hat of red silk heavily bordered with fur and topped by an ornament of gold turquoise and other semi-precious stones surmounted by an amethyst button - a survival of the Chinese buttons of rank. His wife will be wearing over her skirt the striped apron worn by all married women; a brocade blouse with a scarf of plum coloured silk across her breast and one of rainbow colours round her shoulders. Her head dress will be heavy with great corals and turpuoises and hung with closely woven streamers of seed pearls; more gold and turquoise ornaments set with precious stones hang down from her shoulders, and on her breast is a large star-shaped charm box of gold studded with turquoise and diamonds. Other relations [see print 376] who may be present sit on cushions along one side of the room on the left of the family.' There follows a detailed description of the tea drinking and other offerings made at the ceremony. (Lhasa Mission Diary, 14 February 1937).

[Gelatin silver print, 153x105mm].

Subjects = ceremonial dress; dress; dress (Tibetan); festivals; religious ceremonies

Location = Lhasa; Tibet