Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti, before 1877

carte de visite

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hoare, S. (Mrs.)
Société, Îles de la, Tahiti, Papeete
before 1877
paper; photograph
overall: 4-1/8 x 2-1/2 in.

Carte de visite, albumen print on white card; Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti, before 1877; collected by Captain Richard C. Mears (1829-1899) during his travels as a shipmaster to the South Pacific; Queen Pomare of Tahiti (full name: Aimata Pomare IV Vahine-o-Punuatera'itua) wearing an 'ahu tua (empire dress; similar to a mother hubbard dress/mu'umu'u -- clothing introduced to Polynesian women by missionaries to enforce Victorian values of modesty), who reigned from 1827-1877, most likely acquired by Mears circa 1882; handwritten on back "Old Queen/ Pomare/ Tahiti"; printed on back "MRS. S. HOARE,/ Photographer,/ PAPEETE,/ TAHITI."

2005.34.31