John Webber (After) John Hall (Engraver)
Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands
Artwork Detail
Fatafehi Paulaho, the Tu’i Tonga or Tongan King, met Cook on 27 May 1777. Cook describes that upon his departure from Ha’apai the following day, Paulaho boarded the ship “and brought me one of their Caps made or at least covered with red feathers: these Caps were much sought after by us from knowing they would be highly valued at Otaheite…. [T]hey are made so as to tie upon the forehead without any Crown, and have the form of a Semi-circle whose radis is 18 or 21 Inches; but a painting which Mr. Webber has made of Fattafee Polaho dressed in one of these bonnets will convey the best idea of them.”
(See J&S Vol. III, Text, pp.42-3, Cat. 3.52-3.52A)
- Title
- Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- 1784
- Medium
- engraving on paper
- Dimensions
- 289 x 225 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 2007
- Accession no
- 2007/29/4
- Copyright
- No known copyright restrictions
- Department
- New Zealand Art
- Display status
- Not on display
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