Female Marquesan dancer, circa 1882

carte de visite

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hoare, S. (Mrs.)
French Polynesia, Marquises, Îles, Nuka Hiva; Société, Îles de la, Tahiti, Papeete
circa 1882
paper
overall: 4-1/8 x 2-1/2 in.

Carte de visite, albumen print on white card; Female Marquesan dancer, circa 1882 (see Manuscript Coll. 311); collected by Captain Richard C. Mears (1829-1899) during his travels as a shipmaster to the South Pacific; photograph of an engraving or drawing of a female Marquesan dancer, wearing a skirt (most likely made of woven plant fibers), a top (also looks to be made of plant fibers), and an elaborate headdress (similar to other traditional Polynesian dance headdresses); handwritten on back "Marqusian/ Dancer"; printed on back "MRS. S. HOARE,/ Photographer,/ PAPEETE,/ TAHITI."

2005.34.40