IDNO

P.87312.VH

Description

Studio portrait of “Koroi-cata (Lasakau - Bau)”. Koroicata was a member of the Lasakau - one of the fishing or seafarer tribes at Bau island, just off the east coast of Vitilevu.
The man is cultivating tobe tufts at the back and left side of his head, and he wears a batinivuaka boar tusk necklace and a short cloth isulu skirt secured by a fringed white barkcloth sash, and holds an iroi or fly-whisk. He seated in a studio chair and palm leaves have arranged in the background to form a backdrop.
Circa 1869-1871. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003, updated JD 28/11/2011]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto card.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka; Bau; Lasakau

Cultural Affliation

Lasakau

Named Person

Koroicata (Koroi-cata)

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1869 - 1871

Collection Name

Von Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Carte-de-visite; Print Black & White Mounted

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: This print was provisionally attributed to “?Dufty Brothers, Levuka”, but Dufty’s Levuka studio is recognisable through the backdrop of foliage of banana? leaves to the right. This configuration of studio props appears to be used by Dufty between circa 1869 - 1875. The Photographer and Place fields have been amended accordingly. [JD 12/3/2012]

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be the original image at MAA from which the associated photographs have been derived from. [JD 28/11/2011]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Program One. [Alex Nadin, 17/2/2003]