Elegant Tongan Headrest with Sacred Significance

A fine Tongan headrest, of elegant and slender arching form…
click the photo to enlarge
A fine Tongan headrest, of elegant and slender arching form with flaring terminals, creating a graceful curve. Delicate wedge-shaped feet support the lower edge. Small chip on one of the feet's corners. Old weathered patina. Since the head was the most sacred part of the body, being the residence of the mana - Polynesian concept of power, prestige and influence - head supports were fundamental objects that ought to be well designed. The balance and symmetry convey a sense of harmony making this headrest a fine example of prestigious everyday artefacts. Provenance: from the collection of Keith St Cartmail, height 16 cm, length 1 cm, width 12 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

Fijian Club. Kiakavo of well-balanced proportion. Orthodox rough incurve at top. Handle fully bound with sennit. Superb mid-brown patina. Length 98 cm. Width 22 cm. Provenance: T. Clemence Collection, New Zealand

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Georgian shield shaped dressing table mirror, mahogany and string inlay with ivory roundels. 46 cm high, 34 cm wide.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A pair of heavy cast iron garden seat bench ends, English, late 19th century, 79 cm high, 77 cm deep. Provenance: Property of a Gentleman, Melbourne

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Early Fijian Club, of well-balanced proportion. Orthodox incurve at top. Rich redbrown patina. Length 98 cm. Width 16 cm. Provenance: T. Clemence Collection, New Zealand

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.