Sujet

Staircase for a coffin

Légende

Hong KongChina, A coffin sits at the top of a makeshift staircase attached to the exterior of a three-storey building. Staircases such as these were designed to convey the body of the deceased to the street without using the internal stairwell, an act that was considered to invoke bad fortune. Probably Hong Kong.Original manuscript caption: Preparing for funeral. At death the windows are opened to let evil spirit out, - otherwise they will haunt house - the mortal remains must never return to house, or go down staircase, but are carried down impromptu outside staircase. Note coffin at top, circa 1903. 1998/028/1/1/49.

Date

01 févr. 1903

Crédit

Photo12/Bristol Archives/UIG

Notre référence

UMG20A05_218

Model release

Non

Property release

Non

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

47,3Mo (3,9Mo) / 30,7cm x 38,7cm / 3622 x 4569 (300dpi)

Mots clés

Hong KongChina A coffin sits at the top of a makeshift staircase attached to the exterior of a three-storey building Staircases such as these were designed to convey the body of the deceased to the street without using the internal stairwell an act that was considered to invoke bad fortune Probably Hong KongOriginal manuscript caption: Preparing for funeral At death the windows are opened to let evil spirit out - otherwise they will haunt house - the mortal remains must never return to house or go down staircase but are carried down impromptu outside staircase Note coffin at top circa 1903