3-070-828 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Marriage of English in Chinese dress at Pekin, 1881. Engraving of a pen-and-ink sketch by Mrs. Albert Pirkis '...of a marriage celebrated in the chapel of the British Legation on Feb. 1, not according to Chinese rites of course, but with those of the Church of England, conducted by the Chaplain in the regular form. The peculiarity and novelty of the scene lay in the fact that the bride and bridegroom, and the bridesmaid, wore the Chinese dress, though English Christians, being indeed members of the China Inland Mission. Mr. Turner and Miss Crickmay, the happy couple of this occasion, with a lady friend of Miss Crickmay, had travelled all the way from Shan- Si, sixteen days' journey, in the depth of winter, to be married at Pekin. The costume in which they appeared is that of Southern China. The bride wore a jacket of pale blue satin brocade, and under-skirt of dark satin, embroidered with blue flowers. The bridesmaid had a dark blue jacket, and dark red satin skirt, also embroidered with flowers. The bridegroom, Mr. Turner, in prune-coloured jacket and blue petticoat, with pig-tail, Chinese cap, and Chinese shoes, was a curious contrast to his groomsman, who wore the ordinary English dress'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.