ETHNOGRAPHIC ART AND ARTEFACTS
Wednesday, 27 March - Monday, 8 April 2024
A 19thC old Tongan casuarina kali hahapo headrest,
Estimate $5,000 - $8,000
Lot Details
elegantly carved from one piece of hardwood, with concave top bar and tapered bowed convex supports with flared bar form feet. L.380mm. H.163mm. Shaw family provenance: Reputedly inherited through the family from William Shaw a missionary in Tonga. 'A messenger named William Shaw was sent to us from Taufa the chief of Pea to inform us that he wished very much that one of us would come and live with him, and that he was a greater chief than the one we were about to live under.' This quote, an extract from 'A History of Tonga As recorded by Rev. John Thomas.' Edited by Nigel Statham 2013. Photocopy of extract available. Our vendor recalls sitting on this headrest as a child.
