A gathering at the ceremonial drinking of kava and obeisance to the king in Tongatapu, Tonga. Engraving by W. Sharp, 1784, after J. Webber.

  • Webber, John, 1751-1793.
Date:
1784
Reference:
25433i
  • Pictures
  • Online

Available online

view A gathering at the ceremonial drinking of kava and obeisance to the king in Tongatapu, Tonga. Engraving by W. Sharp, 1784, after J. Webber.

Public Domain Mark

You can use this work for any purpose without restriction under copyright law. Read more about this licence.

Credit

A gathering at the ceremonial drinking of kava and obeisance to the king in Tongatapu, Tonga. Engraving by W. Sharp, 1784, after J. Webber. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Description

They show reverence by touching the king's foot with their heads. Probably the event seen by Cook and Webber on 27 June 1777. The king is identified as Fatafei Poulaho, 36th Tu'i Tonga, c. 1770-1784 (Joppien and Smith, loc. cit.), also called Tupoulahi and Paulaho

Publication/Creation

1784

Physical description

1 print : engraving ; platemark 26.7 x 41.4 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands, drinking kava. J. Webber del. W. Sharp sculp. Bears number: 20

References note

Rüdiger Joppien and Bernard Smith, The art of Captain Cook's voyages, vol. 3: The voyage of the Resolution and Discovery 1776-1780, New Haven and London 1988, p. 319, no. 3.55A

Reference

Wellcome Collection 25433i

Type/Technique

Languages

Subjects

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link