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Cultural Portraits of Asia

A diverse collection of historical portraits showcasing traditional attire and theatrical costumes from various Asian cultures, highlighting the rich cultural heritage.

A Woman from the ethnic Tibetan Bhutia tribe from Sikkim, a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. Date: circa 1908

Mandarin; recto, Clark Worswick collection of photographs of China and Southeast Asia, Afong, ca. 1860

Orientalist Group; Roger Fenton (English, 1819 - 1869); 1858; Salted paper print; 35.6 x 27.1 cm (14 x 10 11,16 in.)

Japanese Kabuki Actor/Dancer - possibly in the role of a lion or tiger. Date: circa 1910s

Hilla. 1932, Iraq, Ḥillah

China, Chinese theatrical, Portrait of three unknown Chinese men in theatrical costumes, photograph, photo, page, photos, photographically illustrated books, height 102 mm, width 144 mm, photographer, 1884 - 1894, photographic paper, photo paper, albumen print, albumine print

A high dignitary of the Chinese Six Companies, San Francisco, California.. Postcards, Portrait photographs. 1910 - 1919. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection. Chinese Americans, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (San Francisco, Calif.), Clothing & dress , China

A Turkish Dervish. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth. Within the Islamic tradition such people are often known as Sufis, Sufi, people of the way or mystics and they come from every strata of society; here monetary considerations are inapplicable since the situation is that of a deep personal inner spiritual longing. There are in existence a number Sufi Orders many of which bear the name of a great saint and within these or

A Woman from the ethnic Tibetan Bhutia tribe from Sikkim, a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. Date: circa 1908

The Ancient Navajo. John K. Hillers (American, 1843 - 1925)

Priest with Walking Stick. Felice Beato (English, born Italy, 1832 - 1909)

Portrait of a Chinese man, reading, possibly a priest, c. 1879 - c. 1890 photograph This photo is part of an album. China paper albumen print historical persons not known by name. reading. religious functionaries ~ traditional Chinese religions China

A Jewish lady in ceremonial dress, Tangier (Morocco) Date: early 20th century

Priest Travelling. Felice Beato (English, born Italy, 1832 - 1909)

His Majesty Prabat Somdet Pra parameñdr Mahá Mongkut, First King of Siam, in State Costume. Artist: John Thomson (British, Edinburgh, Scotland 1837-1921 London). Dimensions: 22 x 17.2 cm (8 11/16 x 6 3/4 in.). Date: 1865.John Thomson, a Scotsman who settled in Singapore in 1863, was only beginning his ten-year career as one of the greatest travel photographers of the Far East when he arrived in Bangkok in 1865. Received at the court of King Mongkut, who ruled Thailand as Rama IV from 1851 to 1868, Thomson spent several months in the country, making an excursion to the ruins of Angkor, which he photographed in January 1866, a few months before the arrival of the French photographer M. Gsell (see no. 107). From 1868 to 1872, Thomson assembled his masterly documentation on China, published after he returned to Britain as "Foochow and the River Min" (1873) and the four-volume "Illustrations of China and Its People" (1873-74).A religious reformer who had spent twenty-seven years as a monk

Sar-amay Moses. Our Guide around Constantinople.. Jean Pascal Sébah (Turkish, 1872 - 1947)

Groupe de jeunes filles Druses: Mt. Carmel. Félix Bonfils, photographer (French, 1831 - 1885) 1867-1870 A group of six Druze girls in traditional dress and headscarves, gathered under an olive tree. (Recto) lower right, inscribed on the negative: "663 - Groupe de jeunes filles Druses - Mt. Carmel" (Verso) lower left, in pencil: "L52.8 (Bon)"

Portrait of an unknown Vaidika Smarta from Mysore, c. 1865 - in or before 1875 photograph Mysore photographic support albumen print human races; peoples; nationalities. Brahma (supreme being, creator, etc. ~ Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism)

Bego Mustaffa - almost certainly the ruler and headman of the fortified Turkish Island of Ada-Kaleh (1895 - 1900). The town is now underwater. Situated on the Danube - submerged in 1970 due to the building of a hydro-electric station. Three kilometres from Orsoza. Known as a free port and smugglers nest. Controlled by Austria-Hungary and therefore free from taxes/customs for many years. Population was 600-1000 inhabitants. Date: circa 1908

Kirgizy maloi ordy; Kochuiushchie plemena Priamurskago kraia. Timm, Vasili Fëdorovich, 1820-1895. still image. Prints. 1851 - 1862. Rare Book Division. Russia , Social life and customs, Russia , History, Arts, Russian

Portrait of three nobles or aristocrats with a servant; Goojur Sirdars. HINDOOS. Rajpootana. .

Portrait of a Burmese man in traditional dress including a longyi (wrapped cloth) and ceremonial guang baung head wrap. He stands next to a tree stump holding a cigar. Caption inscribed on negative: A Burmese Man 438. Handwritten caption reads: A Burmese Gentleman.

Llama Priest, Tibet, China Date: circa 1899

Two guards, presumably from the Chenghuang temple of Shanghai, Anonymous, 1850 - 1900 photograph Shanghai photographic support. cardboard albumen print guardian. temple, shrine ~ traditional Chinese religions Shanghai

Prayer. Dated: 1843-1847. Dimensions: image: 20.9 x 16.9 cm (8 1/4 x 6 5/8 in.) mount: 37.5 x 26.6 cm (14 3/4 x 10 1/2 in.). Medium: salted paper print from a paper negative. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson.

The Japanese players at the Criterion theatre in London in a scene from Act II of "The Geisha and the Knight" showing Madame Sada Yacco (or Saddayakko) performing as the geisha dancing before the friars at the gate of the Buddhist Monastery of Dojo-ji. Date: 1901

India - Beegun Songstress from Lucknow with an extremely exotic water pipe (nargile) Date: circa 1910s

Stuffing Mattresses with straw - Tangiers, Morocco Date: circa 1910s

Portrait of an unknown Lingayat from Mysore, c. 1865 - in or before 1875 photograph Mysore photographic support albumen print human races; peoples; nationalities

The British conquest of Burma began in 1824 in response to a Burmese attempt to invade India. By 1886, and after two further wars, Britain had incorporated the entire country into the British Raj. To stimulate trade and facilitate changes, the British brought in Indians and Chinese, who quickly displaced the Burmese in urban areas. To this day Rangoon and Mandalay have large ethnic Indian populations. Railways and schools were built, as well as a large number of prisons, including the infamous Insein Prison, then as now used for political prisoners. Burmese resentment was strong and was vented in violent riots that paralysed Rangoon on occasion all the way until the 1930s. Burma was administered as a province of British India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony. Burma finally gained independence from Britain on January 4, 1948.

Portrait of Cardinal Johannes de Jong, Anonymous, 1900 - 1955 photograph baryta paper. cardboard gelatin silver print historical persons. cardinal

Gunga Singh. Unknown maker

Blind shepherd, Japan, Asia

MERCHANT OF SURAT, INDIA. Surat is Gujarat's second largest city and India's 8th most populated city

'Esclave Cordon Bleu' A Moroccan Chef (from Tangier, Morocco) enters the room bearing a tagine tea cosy! Date: circa 1910

Photograph by Hermann Kaiser, 1937, showing carved wood figures in various poses, including human and animal representations.

Portrait of Two Chinese Buddhist Monks, Raimund von Stillfried-Ratenitz (possibly), 1860 - 1885 photograph photographic support. cardboard albumen print religious functionaries ~ Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism. historical persons

Old begging woman sitting for the basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel, Charles Mertens, 1883 print paper etching / drypoint beggar. old woman. place of pilgrimage, sacred place Basilica of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Scherpenheuvel

Portrait of three Sayyids from India; Syuds. Descendants or mahomed. Old. .

A Korean man wearing official mourning clothes of white or cream colour. Photograph, 1890

Portrait of an unknown girl in a communion dress. .

Portrait of a veiled Egyptian woman. Part of travel album with pictures of sights in Greece and Egypt.

John the Baptist, possible attributes: book, rode cross, baptismal cup, honeycomb, lamb, staff, Benoit Taurel (mentioned on object), Amsterdam, 1852, paper, steel engraving, h 250 mm × w 183 mm

Palace attendants (runners), Persia

Chinese Musical Quartet, China, circa 1900's

The British conquest of Burma began in 1824 in response to a Burmese attempt to invade India. By 1886, and after two further wars, Britain had incorporated the entire country into the British Raj. To stimulate trade and facilitate changes, the British brought in Indians and Chinese, who quickly displaced the Burmese in urban areas. To this day Rangoon and Mandalay have large ethnic Indian populations. Railways and schools were built, as well as a large number of prisons, including the infamous Insein Prison, then as now used for political prisoners. Burmese resentment was strong and was vented in violent riots that paralysed Rangoon on occasion all the way until the 1930s. Burma was administered as a province of British India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony. Burma finally gained independence from Britain on January 4, 1948.

Elsevier photo collection. Javanian dancer. 1929. Indonesia, Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Legong is a form of Balinese dance. It is a refined dance form characterized by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and expressive gestures and facial expressions. Legong probably originated in the 19th century as royal entertainment. Legend has it that a prince of Sukwati fell ill and had a vivid dream in which two maidens danced to gamelan music. When he recovered, he arranged for such dances to be performed in reality. Others believe that the Legong originated with the sanghyang dedari, a ceremony involving voluntary possession of two little girls by beneficent spirits. Legong is also danced at public festivals.

Jerusalem, Palestine young Christian from AS-Salt , 1918 - Near East, Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus - Paul Castelnau (photographic section of the armies) - (January 9 -October 6) (French - Jérusalem , Palestine Jeune chrétienne d' As-Salt). Woman, costume, ethnic minority, Christianity, exists in high definition, portrait, accessory, jewelry, hairstyle , headgear, Human beings, clothing, society, religion, HD, Palestine, Jerusalem, wife of El-Salt

Three newar men from Nepal sitting on the ground; Newar Group. Slave population. Supppined Aboriginal. Nipal. .

African Muslim Women photographed in Constanta, Romania. Constanta fell under Ottoman rule around 1419 and remained so until 1878, when control was ceded back to Romania following the Romanian War of Independence. Date: circa 1910s

Priest Traveling; Felice Beato (English, born Italy, 1832 - 1909); Japan; 1866 - 1867; Hand-colored Albumen silver print

Indian Squaw at workIndian Squaw at work

The Casbah (Al Qasbah, 'the Citadel'), district of Algiers is founded on the ruins of old Icosium. It is a small city which, built on a hill, goes down towards the sea, divided between the High city and the Low city. There are houses and and mosques dating from the 17th century, as well as labyrinths of lanes and houses that are both picturesque and confusing to the outsider.

Portrait of an unknown canon, Anonymous, 1855 - 1885 Photograph. visit card cardboard. paper albumen print priest (Roman Catholic). anonymous historical person portrayed

Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Malay-Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era. Members of this community in Malaysia identify themselves as 'Nyonya-Baba' or 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the females and Baba for males. It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who adopted partially or in full Malay-Indonesian customs to become partially assimilated into the local communities. While the term Peranakan is most commonly used among the ethnic Chinese for those of Chinese descent also known as Straits Chinese, it may also be applied to the Baba-Yaya community in Phuket and other provinces of southern Thailand.

An Uzbeg of Kokan in silk khallat of several colors ", Aus dem Buch" through the Russian Turkestan "..

Sculpture in the Kloostergang van de Dom van Bamberg, Anonymous, 1900 - c. 1920 photograph This photo is part of an album. Bamberg baryta paper gelatin silver print interior of church Bamberg stupid

Tipy narodnostei turkestanskago kraia. Tsyganki (Mazang). Khal'dar Khan | Library of Congress

Egyptian sculpture, anonymous, c. 1870 - c. 1890 photograph paper albumen print piece of sculpture, reproduction of a piece of sculpture. Egyptian religion

Portrait of Emam Buksh from Aligarh with a musical instrument; Emam Buksh. Jogi, OR Mahomedan Devotee. Allyghur. .

Shrine in pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar, c. 1895 - c. 1915 photograph A person is praying in the middle. Yangon photographic support. paper. cardboard albumen print Bonel

Khon performers. Possibly John Thomson, photographer (Scottish, 1837 - 1921) 1850s-1890s Studio portrait of two performers posing and dressed as characters from khon, or traditional Thai pantomime. One of the performers holds a narrow staff in one hand and wears a mask.

Bethlehem, Palestine Bethlehem Mitaire Christian wearing the Chatwé , 1918 - Near East, Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus - Paul Castelnau (photographic section of the armies) - (January 9 -October 6) (French - Bethléem , Palestine Bethléemitaine chrétienne coiffé de la chatwé). Woman, festive costume, ethnic minority, Christianity, portrait, accessory, jewelry, belt, hairstyle , headgear, Human beings, clothing, society, religion, Palestine, Betthlem, Catholic Bethlemitaine wearing chattoué

Native woman from Dezful dressed in traditional costume, Iran. Middle East. Drawing by Edouard Zier (1856 - 1924) Persia, Chaldea and Susiana 1881-1882 by Jane Dieulafoy (1851 - 1916) Le Tour du Monde 1886

'To Strange Music Glittering Little Figures Like These Dance in Temples and Palaces in Siam', c1930s. From "Tour of the World". Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., New York, Chicago, London

Dance in Burma can be divided into dramatic, folk and village, and nat dances, each having distinct characteristics. Although Burmese dance has been influenced by the dance traditions of its neighbours, in particular Thailand, it retains unique qualities that distinguish it from other regional styles, including angular, fast-paced and energetic movements and emphasis on pose, not movement. Various types of Burmese music use an array of traditional musical instruments, assembled in an orchestra known as hsaing waing which the Burmese saing saya Kyaw Kyaw Naing has made more widely known in the West. Traditional folk music is atypical in Southeast Asian music, as it is characterized by sudden shifts in rhythm and melody as well as change in texture and timbre. Classical traditions of Burmese music are found in the Mahagita, an extensive collection of classical songs and are typically divided into indoor and outdoor ensembles. These songs tend to be about various legends in Pali and subse

Description: Filani (Sokoto) africa

Figure 13th-14th century China. Figure 50239

Egyptian Orange Sellers posing artistically for this early photographic postcard. Date: circa 1894

The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group and culture found on the coast of East Africa. The Swahili people mainly reside on the Swahili Coast, in an area encompassing Zanzibar archipelago, coastal Kenya, the Tanzanian coast and northern Mozambique. The name Swahili is derived from the Arabic word Sawahil, meaning 'coastal', and they speak the Swahili language.

Bust of the husband in feza and four praying Arabs; Szwalski, Kazimierz (1855-1940); 1891 (1891-00-00-1891-00-00);Arabs, Egypt, Potoccy, Krzeszowice - collection, Turks, travel

Unidentified man , Priests, Alexandre Benois Collection

Portrait of two begging tons of Sikhism in Delhi, c. 1859 - in or before 1869 photograph Delhi photographic support albumen print human races; peoples; nationalities. religious functionaries ~ Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism

Portrait of Gobind Doss, a Bairagi from Aligarh with traditional clothing and painting on his head, c. 1858 - in or before 1868 photograph Aligarh photographic support albumen print human races; peoples; nationalities

Portrait of three unknown supporters of the Chishti order from Multan; Chishtees. Mahomedans or Arab Origin. Googya. MOOLTAN. .

A Samarkand Tajik bearing in Khalt Garnished with Fur ", Aus Dem Buch" through the Russian Turkestan "..

Portrait of two snake charms in Delhi; Yogis. Snake Charmers. Hindoos or Low Caste. Delhi. .

Portrait of Jumna, a boy who is dressed as the God Krishna; Jumna. Hindoo Boy Dressed As Krishna. Saharunpoor. .

Mendicant Sister, Nun, 1867, Japan, Historic, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original, Asia

A young Indian man, wearing many beads, rags, and makeup, in a temple precinct. Photograph, ca.1900.

Figurine in ceremonial dress. Figurine in ceremonial dress

Portrait of queen Supayalat, the wife of king Thibaw Min of Myanmar, c. 1878 - before 1886 photograph Part of Reisalbum with photos of sights in Burma. Myanmar paper. photographic support. cardboard albumen print ruler, sovereign - BB - female ruler Bonel

The Siamese were avid theatre-goers at the turn of the 20th century. Mime, dance, plays and shadow puppetry were all very popular. Many of the stage plays involved dancers, mostly female, who adorned themselves in jewellery and exhibited lithe movements portraying beauty and flexibility, especially in bending the fingers back. The most common plays were called 'khon', which essentially feature scenes from the 'Ramakien', the Thai version of the Hindu epic 'The Ramayana'.

Tableau Vivant 'India', 1888

Chang Yu-sing the Chinese giant, with his wife King-Foo,and Chung Mow, a dwarf. Wood engraving.

Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Its people include the Meetei, Pangal (Muslims), Bishnupriya Manipuri's, Naga and Kuki who speak different languages of branches of the Tibeto-Burman family. The state is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, and Assam to the west; Burma lies to the east. It covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi).

A Samarkand leper requesting the alms ", Aus Dem Buch" through the Russian Turkestan "..

A Palestine Madonna. 1934

Burmese in festival dress Description: Burmese in festival dress. Location: Rangoon, Burma Date: 1907 burma, philipklier

Gandhi sits in mourning by the body of his wife Kasturba 1944. Kasturba Gandhi wife of Mahatma Gandhi on her deathbed at the Palace of the Aga Khan, in Pune, Maharashtra State. 1944. The Palace, became the place of internment for Indian Independence leaders including Mahatma Gandhi in 1942-44.

Figure of Guan Yu, a guardian deity 19th century China. Figure of Guan Yu, a guardian deity 47910

The Maharaja of Bundi Date: circa 1910

Chinese lady of high rank in full dress costume

Card 1 of 2. The young King Daudi Cwa II of Uganda, seated on his elaborate golden throne (topped with a very British crown!), holding a staff of office, with his feet on a cheetah skin. Sir Daudi Cwa II, KCMG, KBE (1896 - 1939) was the King (kabaka) of Buganda from 1897 to 1939. On 14 August 1897, he succeeded Mwanga II as king of Buganda, a state in East Africa, which is now part of Uganda. A reformist, he initiated several significant changes in his kingdom, including a process of democratisa

Portrait of Bishop Johannes van Arkel, presented by F.J. Frowein, participant in the masquerade parade during the anniversary parties on the occasion of the 55th anniversary (275th anniversary) of the University in Utrecht with the theme of the siege army of Willem IV, Graaf van Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut and Lord of Friesland and the most important of the After the peace on St. Maria Magdalenadag on July 22, 1345, Utrecht besieged.

Korean noble woman in traditional robes, circa 1905

Portrait of a Nihang or an Akali. Willoughby Wallace Hooper (English, 1837 - 1912)

Portrait of an unknown brahmin from Benares that puts banks on the banks of the Ganges at religious festivals; Chauteea. Hindoo Friar. Benares. .

Description: Pataung (Katun) woman. Location: Burma Date: 1903 Description: Pale woman. Location: Burma Date: 1903 Description: Pataung (Tawngma) woman. Location: Burma Date: 1903 burma

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