John Webber (After), John Hall (Engraver)

Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands

Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands by John Webber, John Hall

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
John Webber, John Hall
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

To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.