Photography Ceremonial Flags and a Bridal Sedan

A black-and-white photograph showing a wedding procession with porters and a litter for the bride (huajiao 花轎). The procession goes along the city wall. Two men walk in the front row, each carrying their own banner in the shape of a lantern. Behind them, eight bearers carry a palanquin on their shoulders. They are accompanied by another man. The banners and the litter are made in the same style. A characteristic of the wedding litters is the use of the colour red, regardless of the status of the bride. However, the bride’s status had a great influence on how richly the litter was decorated. As a rule, fabric was used, with various embroidered symbols, sayings and words for the bride and groom. The bride was carried to her new home – the groom’s house.

The photograph is the 162nd of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Ehrenschirme und Brautsänfte ( im Hochzeitszug ). (DZ, MV)