3-052-335 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Chinese Imperial Marriage at Pekin: procession from the Imperial Palace to the bride's residence on the wedding day, 1872. 'The Illustrations which appear in this week's Number of our Journal, representing some of the pomps and peculiar ceremonial arrangements for the marriage of the young Emperor of China at Pekin, on Oct. 16, form the commencement of a series, designed to put before our readers many characteristic scenes and incidents in several parts of the Chinese Empire. Our special Artist, Mr. William Simpson, commissioned to go from England to China upon this express service, was able to arrive at Pekin a few days before the Imperial Wedding took place, and has furnished us with Sketches received by the last mail, three of which supply the Engravings here brought under notice...[Illustration shows] a procession on the 16th, in the afternoon, before the appointed hour for the nuptials, which were fixed to take place at midnight, but for which the bride's chair of state, with golden tablets displaying her names and titles, and with a grand array of banners and umbrellas, was sent to fetch her as became such an occasion'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.