A staged ‘execution’, Shanghai

Collection

Identifier

Os04-019

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Notes

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: Os04-019. Photo from an album (UoB reference Os04) kept in the School of Oriental and African Studies Archives, London (SOAS reference MS 380 876/4). Photograph by William Saunders (1832-1892). This is a staged scene set up by the photographer, to illustrate an execution, using models. The judge is under the awning with attendants. The condemned man’s queue is pulled forward to expose the condemned man’s neck to the executioner’s sword (Source: Régine Thiriez (2010) William Saunders, Photographer of Shanghai Customs, Visual Resources, 26:3, 304-319, DOI: 10.1080/01973762.2010.499656). See Os04-013 and Os04-014 (which are other staged photographs taken at the same open space, said to be Songjiang District, Shanghai).

Caption in album or on mount

Execution

Location

Shanghai

Estimated Date

1865-1870

Photographer

Saunders, William

Material

Paper

Media

Black and white photograph

Repository

Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library, University of London