IDNO

P.99778.VH

Description

The house of Ratu Vuniani (Bunyan) Vuki, the Rokotui Ba and Yasawa, at Sagunu, Ba, northern Vitilevu. Ratu Vuki himself is seated on the cleated ramp leading up to the chiefly doorway, similarly dressed but looking a bit younger than he does in P.4060.ACH1. Note the iroi fly whisk in the hand of the colonial official perched beside him. The high, stone-faced yavu or mound proclaims high spiritual status and authority, as do the cleated ramps and the bulidina or white cowry shells that cover the projecting end caps of the ridge-pole. Late 1870s? [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto card.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Viti Levu; Ba; Sagunu

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Ratu Vuki

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1875 - 1880

Collection Name

von Hügel Collection

Source

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.99759.VH to P.99825.VH were in the belted folder now numbered C539/2/. This was formerly kept in paper archive Large Box G; VH1/4/5. It has now been transferred to the photo archive. The lists describing the contents of this box have been returned to the Paper Archive.

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 8/11/2011]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [A. Nadin, 5/9/2003]