Tahiti (French Polynesia : Island) - Religious life and customs

Date: ca 1900 - 1930

By: Gorton, F G, active 1930s

Reference: PAColl-4381

Description: Set of photographs of Tahiti: Motu-uta (Quarantine Island) with a sea reef in the distance and some people in canoes in the foreground; a view over Papeete with a church in the foreground; the steamer Croix du Sud and a schooner at the government wharf; a man in traditional clothing standing in a cave with a life size stone carving in the shape of a man next to him; a yacht in a bay silhouetted against the sunset; a Tahitian couple on a hill overlooking a broad bay; and a group of men with spears standing in a circle round some women crouching next to what may be a dead person - a man is standing behind the group with his arms raised. Also from the same set are four photographs of a group of Europeans on board a ship, three showing them a holding bouquetsll in fancy dress. Also included are photographs of four women in white dresses wearing elaborate hats and holding bouquets, and a group of men and women onl a picnic with a white tablecloth laid with tea cups etc. F G Gorton was the honorary consulate to the British consul in Tahiti in 1936 and may have assembled this collection. Quantity: 13 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1796 - 1800 - 1834

By: Rooker, Michael Angelo, 1743-1801; Wilson, William, active 1796-1802

Reference: A-118-007

Description: A large graduated stone structure, used as a shrine or memorial marai or morai in Tahiti. It is surrounded by a low fence and coconut and other trees. A European man is standing in front of the fence and a Tahitian man is seated beside him, gesturing towards the morai. This marae or morai was first described by James Cook in 1769, as being 130 x 80 feet and 40 feet high, made of coral blocks. The picture is based on an illustration in: Wilson, James. A missionary voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean ... London, 1799, plate [9] entitled Great morai of Temarre at Pappara in Otaheite. [Drawn by] M[ichael] A[ngelo] Rooker from a sketch by W[illiam] Wilson. William Wilson was first mate aboard the missionary ship Duff under the captaincy of his uncle James Wilson. The voyage of the Duff took place from 1796 to 1798. This image is also used in Dumont d'Urville's Voyage pittoresque autour du monde ... (Paris, 1834 to 1835), Vol I, plate LXIX, 3, Morai de Papara. It is possible that this version is from an English language edition of Voyage Pittoresque, but it may also be from an earlier publication, some time between 1799 and 1834. Other Titles - Papara Great morai of Temarre at Pappara in Otaheite Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Engraving 91 x 136 mm

Date: 1930 - 1939

By: Stuart, Hal, active 1930s?; Luxford, Nola, 1895-1994

Reference: A-428-027

Description: Shows at left a black-robed priest holding a cross up to a cross-centred sun at top right. At lower left a carved statue squats, and is approached from the right by an axe-wielding warrior in headdress and skirt. Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Relief print 250 x 204 mm.

Date: 1838 - 1835 - 1777 - 1843 - 1836

From: Various artists :[66 engravings of Oceanian subjects, including Tahiti, Marquesas, Tonga, Pitcairn, Vanuatu, and Polynesia in general. 1838-1843].

By: Danvin, Victor Marie Felix, 1802-1842; Chollet, active 1835-36

Reference: A-318-042

Description: Shows a cleared area in which stands a large high table on nine legs. In the foreground, inserted in the ground at crooked angles, are long wooden tablets, toothed at the tops. Plate 157 in Domeny de Rienzi's book. In the French edition, Danvin is inscribed as the copyist, and Chollet as the engraver. The scene has similar elements to those in John Webber's 1777 work, "A human sacrifice at Otaheite", which took place on 1 September 1777. According to Beaglehole, the place of action, which Cook identified as "the great Morai at Attahouroo" is Utuaimahurau. Other Titles - Taiti - Autel a Atahourou Other Titles - Tahiti - Altar at Attahouroo / Utuaimahurau Extended Title - From G L Domeny's "Oceania o quinta parte del mondo revista geografica ed etnografica della Malesia, della Micronesia, della Polinesia e della Melanesia ...". Venezia, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1838-43. (Italian edition of his "Oceanie ...". Paris, Firmin Didot freres, 1835-36). Inscriptions: Recto - top right - 157 Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s) extracted from book.. Physical Description: Engraving, black and white, on paper, 141 x 216 mm. Provenance: Purchased at Dunbar Sloane Ltd Winter Antique auction, 1997, lots 462, 463, 466, 468, and 470.

Date: 1838 - 1835 - 1795 - 1843 - 1836 - 1799

From: Various artists :[66 engravings of Oceanian subjects, including Tahiti, Marquesas, Tonga, Pitcairn, Vanuatu, and Polynesia in general. 1838-1843].

By: Wilson, William, active 1796-1802; Danvin, Victor Marie Felix, 1802-1842

Reference: A-318-046

Description: Shows a graduated stone structure, wider at the bottom. Two small figures climb near the base. There are palms and other vegetation in place of Wilson original foreground figures. Plate 161 in Domeny de Rienzi's book. In the French edition, Danvin is inscribed as the copyist, and Chavannes is the engraver. Other Titles - Archipel de Taiti - Morai ou tombeau de Papera Other Titles - Papara Tahiti Great morai of Temarre at Pappara in Otaheite Extended Title - From G L Domeny's "Oceania o quinta parte del mondo revista geografica ed etnografica della Malesia, della Micronesia, della Polinesia e della Melanesia ...". Venezia, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1838-43. (Italian edition of his "Oceanie ...". Paris, Firmin Didot freres, 1835-36). Inscriptions: Recto - top right - 161 Based on an illustration in: Wilson, James. "A missionary voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean". London, 1799. Plate [9]. William Wilson was the first mate under the captaincy of his uncle James. The voyage took place 1796-98. Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s) extracted from book.. Physical Description: Engraving, black and white, on paper, 141 x 216 mm. Provenance: Purchased at Dunbar Sloane Ltd Winter Antique auction, 1997, lots 462, 463, 466, 468, and 470.

Date: 1790 - 1800

By: Webber, John, 1751-1793

Reference: A-111-134

Description: A shed-like structure At foot of plate: Vol. 1, page 30. Derived from an engraving by Byrne after Webber on Cook's 3rd voyage in: Cook, J. A voyage to the Pacific Ocean. London, 1784. Pl. 26. Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Engraving, b&w 166 x 216 mm, on sheet 202 x 270 mm

Date: 1795 - 1805

By: Webber, John, 1751-1793

Reference: B-054-018

Description: Extended Title - The body of Tee, a chief, as preserved after death in Otaheite', after James Webber, from: A voyage... [by Cook and King].. London; 1784 pl. xxvi Inscriptions: At head of plate: Pl xcii Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Engraving 258 x 390 mm

Date: 1847

From: Artist unknown: [Sketchbook of original watercolours painted in Tahiti]

Reference: E-113-f-51

Description: Four depictions of Tahitian natives, with notes written for three: - 'Otahitian woman punished for murdering her husband'. The woman stands in a long striped garment. A note in pencil indicates that she has had 'Murderer' tattooed across her face. -'Otahitian mode of lighting a fire by rubbing two poirou[?] sticks together'. Two men wearing pareo or wrapaeound skirts kneel on the ground, preparing a fire. -'Otahitian woman in mourning'. The woman is shown in a long garment of black and grey fabric printed in a diamond pattern. The other figures are of a man, woman and child. No description accompanies this drawing. Quantity: 3 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, pencil and ink on page of sketchbook, 127 x 275 mm

Date: 1843

By: Lago, active 1830s-1840s; Casa, G, active 1830s-1840s; Bernati, A, active 1820; Webber, John, 1751-1793

Reference: C-036-027

Description: Shows Polynesians gathered around the death-bed of a chief. The different parts of the image are derived from various sources, including the deathbed, bier and surrounding structure from John Webber's 'The body of Tee, a chief, as preserved after death, in Otaheite' [Tahiti] (Engraving, 1784); the platform in the background with dogs' and pigs' bodies and the skulls below, from Webber's 'A human sacrifice in a morai in Otaheite' (engraving, 1784); the fully tattooed figure with club and gourd at the end of the bed from Krustenstern's voyages, showing a Marquesan man with title 'Noukahiva' published in 1826. Pl. 35 Probably from "Il costume di tutti le nazione" (Padua, 1833-43). This source was given for a similar engraving by the same combination of artist and engraver in a Sotheby's catalogue, 28 & 29 June 1993, lot 1173. For the fully-tattooed Marquesan figure, compare A-119-030 Other Titles - Oceania - Polynesia. Plate 35 Extended Title - From Menin, Ludovico. Il costume di tutte le nazioni et de tutti i tempi. (Padua, 1843). Volume 3. Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Hand-coloured engraving 295 x 435 mm on sheet 295 x 435 mm

Date: 1770 - 1788

By: Parkinson, Sydney, 1745-1771

Reference: A-293-004

Description: An engraving after Sydney Parkinson, showing an open-sided building with religious significance, with offering table. There is a small pond beside the building, with two figures bathing. This engraving has been cut from the top of the page of illustrations, facing page 68, in Thomas Bankes' "New Royal authentic and complete system of universal geography" [1788?]. The name of the engraver is not specified. Some engravers of other images within this book are identified. Other Titles - Huahine Other Titles - Fare atua Extended Title - From Thomas Bankes' "A new royal authentic and complete system of universal geography ...". London, for C Cooke [1788? Inscriptions: Recto - above image - Engraved for Bankes's New system of Geography, published by Royal Authority Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Handcoloured engraving, 115 x 176 mm, on sheet cropped to 175 x 223 mm.

Date: 1785

By: Willett, Ralph, active 1780s; Collins, William, active 1780s; Caldwall, James, 1739-1789; Parkinson, Sydney, 1745-1771; Webber, John, 1751-1793; Cipriani, Giovanni Battista, 1727-1785

Reference: C-036-001

Description: Shows Tahitians playing musical instruments and a woman dancing. Shows also a shelter on the left, a shrine in the background and a canoe with a sail on the right. Based on a number of drawings by Sydney Parkinson and adaptations by Giovanni Battista Cipriani of dancing Raiateans seen on Cook's 1st voyage to Tahiti in 1769. Most of the figures, differently arranged, appear in an engraving by Bartolozzi after Cipriani (Joppien-Smith number 1.87B), but the morai (shrine) in the background appears to come from an engraving from Cook's 3rd voyage or from a later publication still. Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Engraving, 16.2 x 21.5 in