IDNO

P.100110.VH

Description

Coloured photomechanical print of a drawing of ‘Thakombau, Vu-ni-Valu, King of Mbau, Fiji’ made by one of the officers of the H.M.S. Herald during their survey of Fiji between 1854 - 1857. Cakobau is reclining on a mat, holding a fan, and wearing a patterned barkcloth?. To the right is a book and a wooden headrest, and the background appears to be barkcloths draped to form a wall. [JD 4/2/2012]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Near Viti Levu; ?Bau Island

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

?Ratu Seru Cakobau, Vuniivalu of Bau, Tui Viti (formerly spelt as Thakombau)

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1854 - 1857; circa 1875 - 1876

Collection Name

von Hügel Collection

Source

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Format

Photomechanical Print

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.100077.VH to P.100194.VH were in the paper archive envelope now numbered C540/. This was formerly kept in paper archive Large Box G; VH1/4/5. It has now been transferred to the photo archive. A note regarding the family of Ratu Seru Cakobau has been returned to the Paper Archive.

Named Person: The man in this portrait is named as ‘Thakombau’ although there is little resemblance to Ratu Seru Cakobau. It may be an earlier kning of the same name.

Bibliographical Reference: ‘The voyage of HMS Herald to Australia: and the South-West Pacific 1852-1861 under the command of Captain Henry Mangles Denham’ by Andrew David (Carlton South, Vic, Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press, 1995). Included in which are the chapters:
Ch. 4. The First Visit to Fiji: 3 September to 24 November 1854
Ch. 8. The Second Visit to Fiji: 25 June 1855 to 3 February 1856
Ch. 10. The Third Visit to Fiji: 27 June 1856 to 26 February 1857. [Source: http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2090586, JD 4/2/2012]

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 4/2/2012]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [A. Nadin, 15/10/2003]