Title: The Great Pagoda, Tanjore, India

Photographer: B. L. Singley

Publisher: The Fine-Art Photographers’ Publishing Co., London

Series: Gold Medal Series

Date: 1902

Location: Tanjore (Thanjavur), Tamil Nadu, India

Medium: Albumen photograph mounted on stereoscopic card

Dimensions: 7 x 3.5 in. (17.78 x 8.89 cm)

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Description:

An attractive and historically important stereoscopic view of the celebrated Great Pagoda at Tanjore (Thanjavur), India, photographed by B. L. Singley and published by The Fine-Art Photographers’ Publishing Company, London as part of its Gold Medal Series. The card is dated 1902 and depicts one of the greatest monuments of South Indian architecture, today known as the Brihadeeswarar Temple, the monumental Chola temple constructed during the reign of Raja Raja I in the early eleventh century.

The photograph presents a striking view of the temple’s soaring pyramidal vimana rising above the surrounding sacred complex. Figures in the foreground animate the scene and provide a sense of scale for one of India’s most remarkable architectural achievements. The image was produced for the popular stereoscopic market, allowing viewers to experience distant monuments in vivid three-dimensional form

Particularly desirable is the extensive printed historical text on the reverse, which discusses the temple’s Chola origins, later additions under the Vijayanagara rulers, and contemporary architectural assessments. Such descriptive backs were intended to educate as well as entertain and add significantly to the historical interest of the piece.

Issued by a respected British photographic publisher during the height of imperial travel photography, this stereoview is an excellent example of early twentieth-century visual documentation of South Asia’s architectural heritage.

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Condition:

Good antique condition. The albumen photographs remain clear and well-preserved with pleasing tonal range. The mount exhibits light age-related wear, including minor corner and edge rubbing, scattered surface soiling, and gentle handling wear consistent with age. The printed text on the reverse remains sharp and fully legible. Overall, a well-preserved example with strong visual appeal and excellent historical content. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

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A desirable early twentieth-century stereoview documenting one of India’s most celebrated temple complexes, combining architectural significance, travel photography, and the enduring appeal of the stereoscopic format.