IDNO

P.87361.VH

Description

Studio portrait of an untamed Kai Colo or Vitilevu highlander. See P.87318.VH, P.87330.VH, P.87339.VH and P.87345.VH. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Cropped 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 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.
Circa 1869-1871. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.4116.ACH1, updated JD 5/11/2011]

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

Photomechanical Print

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.87352.VH to P.87387.VH were in the envelope now numbered C512/6/. 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]

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