An itinerant fruit seller, Beijing
Collection
Identifier
PF01-17
Notes
University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: PF01-17. Photograph by John Thomson, taken at the same place as PF01-29 (and with the same potted plant). In 'Illustrations of China and its People' (1873-1874), vol IV, John Thomson wrote: "Plate No.29 is a type of a Pekinese costermonger, one of the lower orders. This man carries his shop on his shoulders; we see him here informing the dwellers in a narrow lane that he has brought to their doors the choicest grapes of the season." The fruit in the baskets does not look like grapes. The feather duster could be to deter flies. Both the pedlar and the boy have steadied themselves for the long exposure, the former discretely. See a scan of Thomson's negative (Wellcome Collection ref: 19710i).
Related Photographs
Location
Date
1871
Photographer
Material
Paper
Media
Black and white photograph
