IDNO

P.96769.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“F. W. became Political Officer in Sikkim on January 4th, 1933.
(Photos 95-96 were taken at Tongsa MPOW: 74-5)
96. “Tongsa dzong 7,225’ 8.7.33”
See gi: Tongsa
96m. “Looking down Tongsa Valley from roof of Dzong 8.7.33”. Traditional wooden roof held down with stones in contrast to 96l. Nowadays, both wood and corrugated iron are being abandoned as roofing materials in favour of slates.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; Bhutan; Tongsa

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

8 July 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Architecture: View of watch-tower with royal courtier standing on corrugated iron roof. The most important temples have a triple layered roof with a serthog (pinnacle) on top, while most temples are crowned by golden ornament called a gyaltshen ( Williamson: temple banner). The gyeltshen signifies victory, one of the eight auspicious signs recognized in Buddhism. [Dawa Dem 18/9/2008]

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]