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Fonds

C.B. Mears Albums of photographs taken in China

Catalogue reference: ARC/MEA

What’s it about?

This record is about the C.B. Mears Albums of photographs taken in China dating from circa 1907-24 April 1996.

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Full description and record details

Reference
ARC/MEA
Title
C.B. Mears Albums of photographs taken in China
Date
circa 1907-24 April 1996
Description

Two albums collected by Christopher Bass Mears II in China between 1882 and 1912. Also enclosed is a copy of a letter from C.B. Mears IV (donor) to Ken Teague (Assistant Curator at the Horniman Museum) dated 24 April 1996 offering the albums and associated objects to the Museum.

Held by
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Language
English
Creator(s)
Mears, C.B., Mr
Physical description
2 albums; 1 folder
Access conditions

Please contact enquiries@horniman.ac.uk to arrange viewing these records.

Immediate source of acquisition
These albums originally belonged to Christopher Bass Mears II and were collected during his work in China between 1882 and 1912. They were later passed to C.B Mears III (nephew of C.B. Mears II), and later on to C.B. Mears IV (great nephew of C.B. Mears II). They remained in the family home until C.B. Mears IV donated them, along with ethnographic objects from China, to the Horniman Museum in 1996.
Administrative / biographical background

Christopher Bass Mears II worked in China from 1882 to 1912 for the Imperial Chinese Customs. He acquired most of the items donated to the Horniman Museum soon after 1900, when all his original possessions were destroyed in the Boxer rebellion. They are typical of wares that ordinary British overseas workers and tourists bought as Chinese 'curios' at that period just before the Sun Yat Sen revolution of 1912, the final decade of the Chinese Imperial system. Upon retirement in 1912 he and his wife returned to Britain and settled in Brighton.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/83ccb19a-4941-4c1c-80d9-ed2c228ab89e/

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This record is held at Horniman Museum and Gardens

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C.B. Mears Albums of photographs taken in China