A Rare and Exceptional Carved Headrest Kali Hahapo

A Rare and Exceptional Carved Headrest Kali Hahapo.

Excellent colour and patina.

Wood, sennet (coconut fibre), glass beads.

Tonga.

Late 18th / Early 19th Century.

PROVENANCE:

Ex Captain A.W.F. Fuller (1882 - 1961) given to Dr Roland Force, in recognition of Force’s work in cataloguing the Fuller collection (see: below).

Ex Julian Harding collection. 

Ex Wayne Heathcote.

Ex Patricia Withers collection (1934 - 1998) London.

Ex Sotheby’s London 1988.

Ex Nasser Gallery 2010.

Ex Private collection.

See:

‘The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection’ 2010, pg. 246, ill. 146.

‘The Fuller Collection of Pacific Artefacts’, Lund Humphries, London 1971.

A comparable example in the Tongan National Museum, Tofoa. Also several neck-rests part of the collections in the National Museum of Australia, Canberra (inv. Oz 347 and inv. Oz 348).

CF:

Pierre Loos, Bayet et Caltaux, ‘La tête dans les étoiles. Appuis-Nuque d’Afrique et d’ailleurs’, BRUNEAF, 2012: pg. 157.

Exhibited:

BRUNEAF, Bruxelles, Belgium ‘La tête dans les étoiles’. ‘Appuis-nuque d'Afrique et d’ailleurs’, 6 - 10 June 2012.

Of elegant arching form and carved in one piece from a dense, fine grained wood, possibly ‘Intsia bijuga’. Neck-rests of this type were used in Tonga as pillows to ensure that the elaborate coiffure of the owner would not be disturbed during sleep. ‘Kali’ acquired ‘mana’ (the spiritual force) by repeated contact with the owner’s head and in the case of a chief became objects of great prestige. 

This example, from the renowned Captain Fuller collection, is exceptional for the elegance and purity of its form, especially evident in the strongly curved legs ending in subtle horizontal flange feet. To each end of the ‘cross-bar’ glass beads have been inserted to enhance the decorative appeal and importance of this piece. 

In the opinion of George Ortiz no civilisation has equalled the Pacific Islanders’ superb furniture and domestic objects. Writing of Tongan neck-rests the great connoisseur of Polynesian Art Edward Dodd said: ‘What wonderful springing forms!’ 

For a comparable neck-rest (no. 689) in the James Hooper collection. Of classic Tongan form, it was however collected at Mbau, Fiji, in 1865. Compare also two ‘kali’ previously in the Fuller collection ( nos. 274498 and 274499) and now in the Field Museum, Chicago.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance