IDNO

P.87217.

Description

Full length portrait of Ratu Apenisa Seru Cakobau.

Studio portrait of Ratu Seru Cakobau, Vunivalu of Bau, Levuka, Circa 1874. Apart from his long-sleeved shirt the old king is dressed vakatoga or in the chiefly Tongan style, with a long skirt of gatu barkcloth gathered and folded high up beneath the ribs, and a fringed white barkcloth waist sash. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Physical Condition: Gelatin silver print from a copy negative.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Ratu Seru Cakobau, Vuniivalu of Bau, Tui Viti (formerly spelt as Thakombau)

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

?von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1874

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: Dufty’s Levuka studio is recognisable through the use of the sideboard with a plainer and paler base (see P.87333.VH for same? sideboard with darker decorative scroll work and leaves? added to it). The sideboard is normally positioned to the left of the studio, so its position in this image is unusual. This configuration of studio props appears to be used by Dufty between circa 1874 - 1875. The Photographer, Date, and Place fields have been amended accordingly. [JD 13/3/2012]

Related Image: This print appears to be the original image from which the associated photographs have been derived from. [JD 8/11/2011]

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