Masks - Hawaii

Date: 1796

By: Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Jacques, 1757-1810; Laroque, J, active 1796

Reference: A-452-009

Description: Shows a Hawaiian man dancing. He wears a loin cloth and a sort of cape draped over his shoulders. He sports a full head mask, revealing only his eyes and nose; the mask has ornate plumage on its top. He also wears decorative leg pieces, and carries a circular feather-edged shield in his left hand This image is probably based on John Webber's 'A man of the Sandwich Islands dancing', executed in 1784 (ref C-131-062) and reversed; the pose of the dancer and the shield he holds are similar. In addition, the gourd helmet depicted is strikingly similar to that by Webber in '[A canoe of Hawaii, the rowers masked]', of 1779 (A-054-018) Other Titles - Dancer from the Sandwich Islands [translation] Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Hand-coloured etching, image 178 x 117 mm, plate 213 x 147 mm, on sheet 247 x 178 mm

Date: 1835 - 1850

By: Webber, John, 1751-1793

Reference: A-327-037

Description: Aquatint from an unidentified publication shows a full-length male figure with distinctive Hawaiian mask, holding a paddle. The mask has coloured strips descending from the chin. The figure wears a loincloth and draped cloak. Derived from a Webber drawing, but expanded to include the whole figure. Other Titles - War canoe of the Sandwich Islands; rower Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Hand-coloured aquatint, plate 180 x 120 mm, on sheet 215 x 153 mm.