IDNO

P.87278.VH

Description

“Kava Drinking”, a Raphael Tuck & Sons postcard taken from a Fiji Government public relations office photograph showing a group of men dressed in 20th century (circa 1920?) versions of ceremonial dress preparing yaqona against a backdrop of traditional thatched vale houses. All but two have their faces blacked or partially blacked. The kneeling man is holding the bituniwai or bamboo water container, complete with leaf stopper. The man seated behind the tanoa bowl is kneading yaqona from an ibo hibiscus bast strainer which he has balled between his hands. To his right sits a man holding a bilo or half coconut shell cup, and beside him the cupbearer. Their dress is typical of Fijian ceremonial dress from about the time of the First World War on through the twentieth century. Only one wears the once ubiquitous throat pendant, in this case a white cowrie shell. Their broad striped and pleated pandanus leaf skirts, dyed in various colours, are typical of the twentieth century, as are the various leaf vesa or arm and leg bands. Some, including the cupbearer, retain the broad folded barkcloth waist sash and chiefly train. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd [Publishers]

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1920 - 192

Collection Name

Von Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Postcard Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.87278.VH to P.87283.VH were in the print envelope now numbered C512/1/. This envelope came from the Museum’s paper archive envelope VH1/4/7, which has now been re-numbered C512/.

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 26/12/2011]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Program One. [Alex Nadin, 30/9/2003]