Skip to main content

Story: Photography

Daguerreotype of Caroline and Sarah Barrett, early 1850s

Image
Daguerreotype of Caroline and Sarah Barrett, early 1850s

This daguerreotype of sisters Caroline and Sarah Barrett, daughters of Englishman Dicky Barrett and his wife Wakaiwa Rawinia, granddaughter of paramount Te Āti Awa chief Tautara, was taken by Lawson Insley in late 1852 or early 1853. It is one of the earliest known photographic portraits of Māori. 

Using this item

Puke Ariki - Taranaki Museum & Library

Reference: A71.462

by Lawson Insley

This item must not be copied or reproduced in any print or electronic media without the prior permission of Puke Ariki Museum and Library. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Peter Ireland, Photography – Early photography, 1840–1880s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/43201/daguerreotype-of-caroline-and-sarah-barrett-early-1850s (accessed 22 June 2026).

Story by Peter Ireland, published 4 November 2013.