IDNO

P.96611.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“F. W. became Political Officer in Sikkim on January 4th, 1933.
(Photos 53-75: in and around Paro MPOW: 70-73)
55. “One of Tobgye’s men at Ha 15.6.33”
See ww: Tobgye
See gi: ha
(MPOW: 71-2)
Bearing a tea-pot. The Williamsons were served ceremonial tea and rice before proceeding down into Paro itself.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; Bhutan; Haa [Ha]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

15 June 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Context: The man is holding the tea kettle on his left hand. This is a traditional way of serving tea to a very important guest of honour. During the ceremonial tea the guest will be served with butter tea and sweet rice with saffron flavour. [Dawa Dem 15/9/2008]

Publication: Image published in MAA's Digital Lab blog 'A Ceremonial Cup of Tea', 20 June 2023, and captioned: "Figures 7 and 8. Left – A man holding a kettle in his left hand to serve ceremonial tea to the Williamsons on arrival in Paro in 1933. Ha, Bhutan. Photographed by Frederick Williamson. MAA P.96611.WIL Donated by Margaret Williamson. Williamson Collection." [Source: https://www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2023/06/20/a-ceremonial-cup-of-tea/, JD 10/07/2023]

The transcription of this album by Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman was carried out with reference to Krystina Cech’s catalogue list alone. Alex Nadin has since revised their cataloguing by systematically matching their records to the images. Margaret Williamson’s handwritten captions for photographs have now been transcribed into the Inscription field, and Cech’s descriptions appear in the Description field. Correct entries for Place, Named Person and Other Nos. have also been entered by Alex Nadin. [Sudeshna Guha 29/10/2002]