Civil Officer

Attributed to John Thomson (Scottish, 1837 - 1921)

Dateca. 1870

MediumAlbumen print

DimensionsImage and sheet: 3 7/16 × 2 1/8 inches (8.69 × 5.41 cm)
Mount: 4 1/8 × 2 7/16 inches (10.49 × 6.15 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Hall Family Foundation

Object number2015.67.78

Signednone

InscribedPrinted captions on paper, attached to mount verso, in black type: "Civil Officer. / Foreigners have been in the habit of / calling all Officers either Civil or Mili- / tary in China "Mandarins", whereas the / Chinese themselves never use such a / term and only those who are thrown in / constant contact with Foreigners have / any idea of the meaning of the word. -- / The origin of this nisnomer [sic] is said to be / derived from the Portuguese word "Man / dar" to command, and this is probably / the correct explanation of the derivation / of the name. --"

Markingsnone

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Not on view

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Photography

Terms

DescriptionHand colored image of man with glasses wearing hat, jacket, and long dress. His hands are tucked inside muff and looks off to his right.

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