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

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

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 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

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.