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View of Peking from the Observatory, with 17th century astronomical instruments

Detail of a pattern

At A Glance

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Dates

1870s
Physical Description

1 Item (photographic print, albumen, 21.4 x 27.5 cm)
Collection ID

FSA.A2009.03
EDAN ID

ead_collection:sova-fsa-a2009-03

Scope and Contents

A large format albumen print of the Beijing Ancient Observatory, with various bronze instruments, altazimuth in the foreground. The print has minor fading and wear, and appears to have been removed from a photographic album. Print shows slight image doubling, suggesting that the camera was nudged during the long exposure. Exact date and photographer are unknown.

北京
Biographical / Historical

The observatory was originally built in the Ming dynasty, but expanded in the Qing dynasty. Many of the instruments were looted during the occupation of the Eight-Nation Alliance.
Local Numbers

FSA A2009.03
Place

China

Beijing (China)

China -- Peking (Beijing)
Topic

Astronomy

Astronomical observatories -- China
Custodial History

Gift of Dr. Thomas Lawton
Archival Repository

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Albumen prints
Citation

View of Peking from the Observatory, with 17th century astronomical instruments, FSA.A2009.03. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Dr. Thomas Lawton.
Arrangement

Single item
Rights

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.
Genre/Form

Albumen prints -- 1860-1880
Restrictions

Collection is open for research.