Peking, Pechili province, China: a camel with its owner. Photograph by John Thomson, 1871.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1871
Reference:
26256i
  • Pictures

Selected images from this work

View 2 images

About this work

Description

A man with a very furry camel, standing in front of a brick wall with a lattice at the top. Until the advent of the railways, the camel was the main form of transport throughout north China and into Central Asia. This animal was held in high esteem among the Mongols, for it is physically adapted for traversing the sandy plains of the Gobi Desert. The camel's stomach has bladders that enable it to carry a store of fresh water, and, in like manner, its humps are furnished with a store of food in the shape of fatty matter that can be absorbed in times of need

Publication/Creation

1871

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Lettering

A Mongolian camel Bears Thomson's negative number: "A797"

Notes

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

References note

John Thomson, Illustrations of China and its people, London, 1873-4, vol IV pl. XXII fig. 53. "A Pekingese Camel"

Reference

Wellcome Collection 26256i

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    By appointmentManual request

    Note

Permanent link