Tag Archive for 'Serge Vargassoff'

Tian’an Men: then and now

Published by Paula Bray on September 11, 2011 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .


Photography by Serge Vargassoff


Photography by Xiaoyang Yu
© All rights reserved

These two photographs are the nineteenth in our ‘then and now’ series that we are sharing on Photo of the Day that have been researched by Nina Wang, an intern from the University of Sydney who has been working with our Registration team cataloguing the lantern slides of Serge Vargassoff taken in China from 1910s to 1940s. Serge Vargassoff (1906-1965) is a Russian-born photographer who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20 in Beijing and became a long-term resident of the city. A set of 89 lantern slides in a Chinese style wooden box was donated to the Museum by Vera Vargassoff, a niece of Serge Vargassoff in 2010.

Nina has written the following:

Tian’an Men was the principal entry way to the Imperial City during Ming and Qing dynasties. It is extraordinary for its imposing size, Hua Biao (Ornamental Columns), stone lions and the white marble bridges decorate the front.

Early in Ming dynasty, a wooden memorial gate covered in yellow-glazed tiles was built on the present site. Originally called Chengtian Men (Gate of Receiving Grace from Heaven), it burned down and was later rebuilt in 1465 during the Xianzong reign (Ming dynasty). Unfortunately, this gate was burned again in the early Qing dynasty leaving only the foundation of its walls. In 1651, during the Shunzhi reign (Qing dynasty), the upper structure of the gate was rebuilt in the original style and renamed Tian’an Men. Today it retains the basic character of the early Qing gate.

The base of Tian’an Men, pierced with five arched gateways and set on a foundation of white marble, stands 10 meters high. It is built of huge bricks, each weighing approximately 24 kg. On top of this massive structure stands a palace-like gate tower with its roof top 33.7 meters above the ground. A low wall surrounding the gate tower encircles a white marble balustrade which frame the gate tower on four sides. The roof is covered with the same imperial yellow-glazed tiles found on every building in the Forbidden City.

Just before the southern entrance to Tian’an Men, five arched bridges, shaped like curving jade belts, cross the Jinshui He (Golden River). The central bridge is slightly wider than the rest and forms part of the Imperial Way which was exclusive used by the Emperor.

The Meridian gate: then and now

Published by Paula Bray on May 11, 2011 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .


Photography by Serge Vargassoff
No known copyright restrictions


Photography by by Xiaoyang Yu
© All rights reserved

These two photographs are the eighth in our ‘then and now’ series that we are sharing on Photo of the Day that have been researched by Nina Wang, an intern from the University of Sydney who has been working with our Registration team cataloguing the lantern slides of Serge Vargassoff taken in China from 1910s to 1940s. Serge Vargassoff (1906-1965) is a Russian-born photographer who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20 in Beijing and became a long-term resident of the city. A set of 89 lantern slides in a Chinese style wooden box was donated to the Museum by Vera Vargassoff, a niece of Serge Vargassoff in 2010.

Nina has written the following:

This slide shows Wu Men (the Meridian Gate) which is the first front gate of the Forbidden City in Peking. Wu Men is the main south entrance of the Forbidden City and is also the largest gate. It is 35.6m high and looks like a “TT” from above. The gate has five openings: the central arch opening was for the exclusive use of the Emperor, the east smaller arch was used by the officials and ministers, and the west arch was used by the Imperial family; the outermost arches to the sides were used by the low ranked officials.

Suyunyan Watchtower: then and now

Published by Paula Bray on March 30, 2011 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .


Photography by Serge Vargassoff
No known copyright restrictions


Photography by Photo by Xiaoyang Yu
© All rights reserved

These two photographs are the fifth ‘then and now’ images that we are sharing on Photo of the Day that have been researched by Nina Wang, an intern from the University of Sydney who has been working with our Registration team cataloguing the lantern slides of Serge Vargassoff taken in China from 1910s to 1940s. Serge Vargassoff (1906-1965) is a Russian-born photographer who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20 in Beijing and became a long-term resident of the city. A set of 89 lantern slides in a Chinese style wooden box was donated to the Museum by Vera Vargassoff, a niece of Serge Vargassoff in 2010.

Nina has written the following:

This slide shows the Su Yun Yan Chengguan (Lodge Clouds Eave Pass or Suyunyan Watchtower) in the northwest of the Summer Palace. This pass (or watchtower) was built during the Qianlong reign (Qing dynasty). The pavilion on top of the city wall was to consecrate Guan Gong (Kuan Kung God). In the Qianlong reign there used to be closures around three sides of the Kunming Lake and the Su Yun Yan Pass was the west Pass of the Summer Palace. The old pine tree outside the Pass was also planted during the Qianlong reign.

Wulong Ting: then and now

Published by Paula Bray on March 22, 2011 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .


Photography by Serge Vargassoff
No known copyright restrictions


Photo by Xiaoyang Yu
© All rights reserved

These two photographs are the fourth ‘then and now’ images that we are sharing on Photo of the Day that have been researched by Nina Wang, an intern from the University of Sydney who has been working with our Registration team cataloguing the lantern slides of Serge Vargassoff taken in China from 1910s to 1940s. Serge Vargassoff (1906-1965) is a Russian-born photographer who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20 in Beijing and became a long-term resident of the city. A set of 89 lantern slides in a Chinese style wooden box was donated to the Museum by Vera Vargassoff, a niece of Serge Vargassoff in 2010.

Nina has written the following:

This slide shows the Wulong Ting (Five-Dragon-Pavilion) which is a complex including five pavilions and marble bridges. It is set in Beihai Park in Peking. From the slide, it appears that the Wulong Ting was under repair as there are bamboo curtains hanging on each side of the pavilions. The pavilions were constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1602, the 13th year of Emperor WanLi. The middle pavilion is the largest and, unlike the others, it has a circular upper roof. It is known as Longze Ting (Pavilion of Dragon Benevolence). In the past, the Emperor and his consorts would come here to fish, watch fireworks, or admire the moon over Qiong Dao (Jade Islet).

Chinese New Year

Published by Paula Bray on February 8, 2011 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

This image is from a set of hand coloured lantern slides by Serge Vargassoff taken in China from 1910s to 1940s. Serge Vargassoff(1906-1965) is a Russian-born photographer who established himself as a professional photographer, at the age of 20 in Beijing and became a long-term resident of the city. A set of 89 lantern slides in a Chinese style wooden box was donated to the Museum by Vera Vargassoff, a niece of Serge Vargassoff in 2010.

This image shows a man with a food stall which was a carrying pole with a shelf of ingredients on one side and an oven on the other side. The food he sold was probably noodles or Yuntuns.

2011 is the year of the rabbit and to celebrate we have contributed to CHINA HEART, a FREE interactive multi-platform game for smartphones and web that is part love story, part mystery. Download the app and start to unravel the mystery whilst learning about the history of Chinese Australians from the 19th century to now.

Photography by Serge Vargasoff
No known copyright restrictions
Post by Min-Jung Kim, Curator