IDNO

N.12767.EVN

Description

Upward view of the giant swing built of teak wood, with buildings in the foreground. In The Years Behind Me Evans had mentioned the swing as: "An interesting thing that I saw on my first visit to Bangkok, near one of the large temples, was the enormous archway, made of two huge teak pillars with a carved cross-piece on top, for the swing used at the annual festival. The structure was permanent and, as the festival was approaching, the swing itself was already in position as well as a tall bamboo, planted vertically some way from the swing. A purse of money is attached on top of the bamboo, and the successful performer on the swing grasps this with his teeth, and thus detaches it, when it becomes his property. The swing festival, I understood, promoted the growth of the rice crops" (pg. 481). [SG 23/10/2008]

For earlier images of the swing and this festival, see also lantern slides 136.60-64. which are taken by Strickland. [SG 23/10/2008]

Place

SE Asia; Thailand; Bangkok [Siam; Wat Suthat]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Evans, Ivor Hugh Norman

Collector / Expedition

Evans, Ivor Hugh Norman

Date

1935

Collection Name

Evans Collection

Source

Evans, Ivor Hugh Norman

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

The negative was found in the wallet now numbered C252/5/ which was found inside the wooden box now marked as C252/.

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Sudeshna Guha 23/10/2008]