IDNO

P.87216.

Description

“Cagi Levu, Roko Tui Kadavu” = Nacagilevu, Rokotui Kadavu. See P.4107.ACH1. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Studio portrait of an elderly Christian chief, Ratu Nacagilevu of Kadavu, wearing a pinstripe shirt of a type by chiefs in the 1870s. He has a leather belt wallet showing beneath his waist sash, worn over a patterned cotton isulu wrap-around kilt. The lobe of his left ear has been pierced and expanded to accept a saunidaliga ear lobe ornament of the type demanded by the Fijian religion, but spurned and denigrated by the Wesleyans. See P.87306.VH.
Circa 1875-1876. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka; Kadavu

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Ratu Nacagilevu (Na Cagi Levu)

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

?von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1875 - 1876

Collection Name

Source

Format

Photomechanical Book Illustration

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: Dufty’s Levuka studio is recognisable in the uncropped duplicate print, P.87306.VH, through his use of a wooden chair with turned legs in front of a brocade curtain patterned with a floral design framed by a diamond-shaped outline is also distinct to Dufty’s Levuka studio. This configuration of studio props appears to be used by Dufty between circa 1874 - 1876. The Photographer, Date, and Place fields have been amended accordingly. [JD 13/3/2012]

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