Siam (Thailand): a khon (masked dance drama) and lakhon (acting) troupe. Photograph by John Thomson, 1865.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1865
Reference:
19478i
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Description

A troupe of twenty-six dancers and musicians, some with elaborate costumes and masks: fifteen are girls, seven boys, and four men. In the background is a traditional bamboo house with a pandanus thatched roof together with sugar cane and banana trees. Fifteen of those present are lakhon performers. Eleven of them are on the left (one standing resting a sword on her shoulder, four seated along an rattan chair, and six kneeling behind the musicians), two sit on the floor in the centre, and two on the seat on the right. The six khon performers perform a scene from the Ramakien, derived from the Ramayana. They include (centre) a yaksha (giant) fighting with Phra Ram; to the right of them, two other yakshas; seated on the seat to right, Tosakanth, the demon king; and far right, possibly Indrachit, one of the sons of Tosakanth. In front are four musicians and a child. For further details see Paisarn Piemmettawat, loc. cit.

Publication/Creation

1865

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion ; glass approximately 20.5 x 25.5 cm (8 x 10 in.)

Lettering

Lakon dancers, Siam. J. Thomson photo.r. 40 Signed on the negative Bears Thomson's negative number: "615"

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

Paisarn Piemmettawat, Siam through the lens of John Thomson 1865-66, including Angkor and coastal China, Bangkok: River Books, 2015, pp. 80-81

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19478i

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