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

Object Description

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

SIZE: 12.5cm high, 44cm long – 5 ins high, 17¼ ins long

Object History

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 1930’s
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

Object Literature

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.

Object Details