IDNO

P.87211.VH

Description

Studio portrait of “Ratu Marika Toroca - of Namata, Tai Levu [Tailevu, eastern Vitilevu], Chief Native Magistrate.” Ratu Marika is wearing the scarlet, fur-trimmed robes of the Native Associate Judge of the pre-colonial Cakobau government of the early 1870s, meaning that this photograph was probably taken then. [His robes survive in the Fiji Museum.] Early 1870s. See P.87349 for a later view of Ratu Marika, wearing his courtroom “bob”. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka; eastern Vitilevu; Tailevu; Namata

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Ratu Marika Toroca

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

?von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1870 - 1875

Collection Name

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.87203 to P.87221 were in the Museum’s paper archive envelope, OA2/5/12, which has now been re-numbered C511/.

Photographer: This image was previously provisionally attributed to Dufty, but the curtain, chair, and studio wall with skirting board are identifiable as being of Francis Dufty’s studio, Levuka. (Compare with P.70157.ACH2.) [JD 28/3/2012]

Publication: A drawing of this man in a similar pose is on the websites ‘www.pictureaustralia.org’ and ‘www.slv.vic.gov.au’. [A. Nadin, 2/7/2003]

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 21/12/2011]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Program One. [A. Nadin, 2/7/2003]