IDNO

P.87376.VH

Description

Dufty studio portrait of a Christian Fijian man in gala or dance dress. He has flowers and streamers - probably made from striped pandanus leaf - in his hair, and a white cowry shell pendant at his throat. Otherwise he wears a modest fringed white barkcloth iwabale shoulder sash and similar waist sash over his striped isulu wrap-around skirt. The leg muscles just below his knees are braced with black vesasausauwai bindings fringed with trade beads. He is holding a kiakavo dance club. Note the photographer’s clamp.
Circa 1875-1876. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; Levuka

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Dufty Brothers, Levuka (Dufty, Francis Herbert)

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1875 - 1876

Collection Name

Von Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Carte-de-visite; Print Black & White Mounted

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/.

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 29/12/2011]

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