Peking, Pechili province, China: a nightwatchman. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1869.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1981
Reference:
19623i
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Description

A man, wearing a shaggy coat and hat, striking an attitude of calling out while hitting a wooden sounding-board with a baton. Taken out of doors. The same as Thomson's negative number 688, probably one half of a stereo pair. "One of the city guard, Peking. An old Tartar bannerman, a humble member of the Manchu camp, who kept watch at the gate of the French hotel by night, and although in the pay of the government, and allowed a salary sufficient for his own support, yet by the time the amount reaches his hands through the official channel, it dwindles to about six shillings a month, and a regulation sheep-skin coat once a year. Old Wang ... employed also a wooden clapper to let the inmates of the house know he was astir, and to scare away thieves."--Thomson, loc. cit.

Publication/Creation

1981

Physical description

1 photograph : photoprint

Lettering

Canton night watchman. Peking city guard Bears Thomson's negative number: "688a" Bears numbers: 22 51

Notes

This is one of a collection of same-size contact prints made, in 1981, from John Thomson's original negatives. The glass negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921 and are now in the Wellcome Institute Library

References note

John Thomson, Illustrations of China and its people, London, 1873-4, vol. IV pl. XXII fig. 51. "One of the City Guard, Peking"

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19623i

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