IDNO

P.87378.VH

Description

Dufty studio portrait of a Christian Fijian man holding an iuladrisia throwing club. The pendant at his throat is a red and white sovui, or Spondylus shell - a chief’s or priest’s ornament. He is dressed vakatoga or in the Tongan manner favoured by chiefs at home or when not engaged in activity, with an isulu wrap-around skirt surmounted by a broad, fringed white masi barkcloth ivaunitolona or waist sash, girding his body from just below the ribs to just above the waist.
Levuka, 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]