IDNO

P.87330.VH

Description

Studio portrait of a Kai Colo or Vitilevu highlander.
Circa 1869-1871. See P.4116.ACH1 for dress details. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Studio portrait of a seated untamed “big head” Kai Colo or Viti Levu highlander wearing a malo loincloth, and with his hairdressed in a traditional style that has yet, in his case, to be censored by the Wesleyans. The man wears a white shell necklace and a civa breast-plate, the ornamental strings of which are studded with white shells or shell beads, and qato or lavei bracelets, cut from the sici or trochus shell, above the elbow. The man is seated in a studio chair and holding a club.
Circa 1869-1871. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.4116.ACH1, updated JD 5/11/2011]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto paper.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka

Cultural Affliation

Kai Colo [historically Big Head Mountaineers]

Named Person

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.87321.VH to P.87342.VH were in the envelope now numbered C512/4/. This envelope came from the Museum’s paper archive envelope VH1/4/7, which has now been re-numbered C512/.

Publication: A carte-de-visit of the same man ( (and duplicate of P.87204., P.99981.VH, and P.109436.) is held at the State Library of Victoria, reference H2005.34/1090, with the following information:
Title: [Studio portraits of Fijians by F. & A. Dufty, Fiji] [picture] / F. & A. Dufty.
Author/Creator: Dufty, F. & A.
Date(s): [ca. 1868-ca. 1885]
Description: 8 photographic prints on carte de visite mounts : albumen silver ; 11 x 7 cm.
Copyright status: This work is out of copyright.
Index terms: Australia; Francis and Alfred Dufty; studio portraits; Fiji; Fijians
Notes: Title assigned by cataloguer.
Dufty Bros. operated from Fiji between 1870's and 1880's. Ref.: Australians behind the camera, directory of early Australian photographers, 1841-1945 / Sandy Barrie, 2002.
Photographer printed on verso of H2005.34/1085-87, 1089: F. & A. Dufty / Photographers / Levuka / Fiji.
Photographer printed on verso of H2005.34/1085-88, 1090-92: F. & A. Dufty / Photographers / Levuka and Suva / Fiji.
Contents/Summary: Three men, two sitting, one in centre standing and holding a weapon shaped like a sword but made of wood, all whole-length, facing camera, in native costume
Source/Donor: Gift of Mr John Etkins; 2005.
[Source: http://search.slv.vic.gov.au, JD 12/3/2012]

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. [Alex Nadin, 12/02/2003]