IDNO

P.87303.VH

Description

Studio portrait of Sakiki - see P.52448.VH. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Dufty studio portrait of “Sakiki” of Rakiraki, Ra, NE Vitilevu - whose namesake apparently was the sakiki fan palm, Pritchardia pacifica. Christian in terms of haircut and dress, he wears a white cotton wrap-around isulu kilt, but his left ear lobe has been pierced and stretched for a saunidaliga or ear lobe ornament, showing that he grew up in the Fijian religion. Round his neck is a band of small white shells, and above each elbow a qato bracelet made from the sici or trochus shell. He holds an ititoko or elder’s stave in his right hand. A fuller version of P.52429.VH.
Circa 1875-1876. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.52448.VH, JD 27/10/2011]

“F.H. Dufty studio portrait of Sakiki, a middle-aged Christian Fijian man who grew up in accordance with the Fijian religion, his left ear lobe having been pierced and stretched to house a saunidaliga ear ornament, which was an anaethema to the Wesleyans. At his throat is an itaube or necklace of what look to be small white shells. He is holding his titoko or elder’s stave in his right hand, and wears a qato bracelet cut from sici or trochus shell just above his left elbow. See P.52448.VH for his identity. Early to mid 1870s.” [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.52429.VH, JD 27/10/2011]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka; northeast Vitilevu; Ra; Rakiraki

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Sakiki

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1875 - 1876

Collection Name

Von Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Photomechanical Print

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.87297.VH to P.87320.VH were wrapped in the piece of paper now numbered C512/3/. This envelope came from the Museum’s paper archive envelope VH1/4/7, which has now been re-numbered C512/.

Photographer: Dufty’s Levuka studio is recognisable in the uncropped duplicate print, P.52448.VH, through the painted studio backdrop to represent a view out a window with shutters (note the knob added to the shutter that casts a shadow). This appears to be a feature of Dufty’s studio throughout the 1870s, although the idealised landscape ‘view’ changes around 1875-1876. Further recognition of Dufty’s Levuka studio is through his 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. The 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 - 1875. 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]