A Very Fine and Rare Headrest Kali or Kalimasi / Kali Toloni

A Very Fine and Rare Headrest Kali or Kalimasi / Kali Toloni.

Bamboo, wood, coconut ‘sennet’ fibre.

The ‘cross-bar’ (rest) engraved with triangular design reminiscent of ‘Tapa Cloth’.

Two old paper labels, one stating African origin.

Superb colour and patina from age and use.

Tonga.

18th - early 19th Century.

PROVENANCE:

Tennant’s Auction Rooms, Yorkshire, July 2009, lot 314, entered privately from the grand daughter and descendant of an eccentric antiques dealer from Harrogate, who used to ride around the town in a ‘trap’ pulled by a zebra ! to the amusement of the townsfolk.

William Young (auctioneer, dealer, collector) died 1930s.

Miss Young (grand-daughter).

Ex Finch and Co, 2009.

Ex Private collection.

SEE:

‘The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection’ 2010.

EXHIBITED:

BRUNEAF, Bruxelles, La tête dans les étoiles. Appuis-Nuque d’Afrique de d’ailleurs 6 - 10 June 2012.

CF: 

Pierre Loos., Bayet T. et Caltaux S., La tête dans les étoiles. Appuis-Nuque d’Afrique et d’ailleurs, BRUNEAF, 2012: pg. 159.

Of all the known types of Tongan neck-rests, known as ‘kali’, this type, ‘kali toloni’, which is known by the three piece construction and use of a ‘pole’ (bamboo) as a pillow (cross bar), is the least common and the most elegant. Used predominantly by Tongan chiefs (St. Cartmail, 1997), the present example is of a particularly enticing and elegant proportion, being long, wide and low in stance.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance