Reverend William George Lawes
1881-1889
A Koitapu Chief and another man posing in front of a neutral backdrop; they both wear feather headdresses and ear ornaments; one holds a war club, the other holds a bamboo cylinder with geometric incised design; Koitapu, Papua New Guinea

Gelatin silver print
British Museum
Museum number: Oc,B103.34
 
Printed by Henry King Studio.
 
The image was taken between 1881-9 by Reverend William G Lawes (1839-1907). Lawes was a missionary based in the Papuan Gulf, who established the London Missionary Society's station in Port Moresby in 1874. W.Y. Turner, a mission colleague, noted that Lawes made his photographs in Port Moresby (Welsch 2006).
 
Henry King, of King Photos Sydney, placed numbers on the photos by Lawes that he sold, the numbers referred to the 'List of New Guinea Photographs by Rev. G Lawes' (Welsch 2006). His list was divided into categories 'General', 'Missionary' and 'Anthropological', this image is number 221; the list states "Koitapuu Chief, with head dress, &c.". For more information see ' Welsch. R. 2006. Coaxing the Spirits to Dance. University of Washington Press: Seattle'.
 
LL/89877