Empires of the East: An Ornate Tallis Map of Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuri, 1851

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Empires of the East: An Ornate Tallis Map of Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuri, 1851

About the Item

This original - with hand-colored borders- map of Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria is an example of the intricate work produced by John Tallis & Company, who were known for their detailed and artistic maps in the mid-19th century. **The Maker - John Tallis & Company:** Tallis maps were distinctive for their ornamental borders and detailed vignettes. They often contained illustrations that provided a snapshot of the culture, geography, and significant landmarks of the region they represented. **The Map - Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria:** This map would have represented the regions of Central and East Asia, areas of great interest during the British Empire's expansion, though not directly controlled by the British. They would be significant for trade routes, exploration, and for the British understanding of global geography. **The Countries:** - **Tibet**: Known for its unique cultural heritage and as the home of Tibetan Buddhism, it's a region of high plateaus and significant religious landmarks. - **Mongolia**: Characterized by its vast steppes and as the homeland of the Mongol hordes that once conquered much of the known world. - **Manchuria**: Rich in natural resources, it has been a region contested by various powers due to its strategic importance. **The Tallis Series:** "The British Colonies" by Robert Montgomery Martin was intended to educate and inform the British public about the wide-reaching impact of the British Empire and to provide detailed information about regions that were important for British interests. While Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria were not British colonies, their inclusion in the series suggests a British interest in the wider geopolitical landscape of Asia. Collectors and enthusiasts today value these maps for their beauty, historical significance, and the insight they provide into the British perspective of the world during the era of their greatest colonial expansion. More details on the insets: The insets on this map are detailed illustrations depicting significant landmarks and cultural representations of Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria. They were a common feature in the Tallis maps, intended to provide a visual narrative to accompany the geographic information. Here's a description of the insets: 1. **Leh, Little Tibet**: A panoramic view of the cityscape of Leh, the capital of Ladakh in the region historically known as Little Tibet. The architecture is clearly influenced by Tibetan style, with multi-story white-washed buildings tightly packed together against a backdrop of rugged mountains. 2. **Chinese Wall**: This vignette depicts a section of the Great Wall of China, showcasing its massive fortifications and watchtowers. The wall snakes over the mountains, with two figures in the foreground, likely to indicate the scale and to provide a human element to the scene. 3. **Fortress and Palace of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa**: An image of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the historical seat of the Dalai Lama. The grandeur of the palace is evident, with its imposing position atop a hill, overlooking the city. 4. **Mongol Noble**: This inset shows a Mongolian nobleman riding a camel, depicting the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian steppes. The attire and the saddle on the camel are detailed, indicating status and wealth. 5. **Dwelling of Teshoo Lama, Shigatse**: The Tashilhunpo Monastery is likely represented here, which is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, known as the Teshoo Lama in some historical texts. It shows a significant building within a rugged landscape, possibly signifying the monastery's religious importance. 6. **Mausoleum at Teshoo Loombo**: An illustration likely depicting part of the Tashilhunpo Monastery complex, which is the mausoleum and would house stupas or burial sites of important lamas. These illustrations serve as a visual guide to the cultural and geographical features of the regions, providing an engaging supplement to the map. The Tallis maps are known for such embellishments, which made them part decor, part educational tool during the 19th century. They are now valuable for their historical perspective on the representation and understanding of these regions.

Dimensions:
Height: 10.71 in (27.2 cm)Width: 14.26 in (36.2 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
Materials and Techniques:
Paper
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
1851
Condition:
Good given age. Original fold in middle as published. General age-related toning, please study scan carefully.
Seller Location:
Langweer, NL
Reference Number:
Seller: BG-13736-51stDibs: LU3054339291672