Tongan kali hahapo (M shaped) neckrest

Tongan design at its most superb, a Kali hahapo neckrest  presenting a  fine and deep patina and showing areas of encrustration from age and use.  The finish appears unmolested and original as expected for an 18th C. piece.  This piece distinguishes itself to be sublimely elegant at 18” in length, a departure from the typical shorter examples and itself a very sexy shape and a quite curvaceous example -  why I chose this example in the first place!     A convex strengthening shape under the horizontal bar is present along with Neolithic  tooling marks, in excellent condition.

These Polynesian works of art were early examples of functional art, a century and half later, similar functional elegance and simplicity were created in the west by artisans such as Frank Lloyd Wright, le Corbusier and Saarinen.  A simple block would have served the same purpose, but instead we are fortunate to have these elegant and masterfully executed works.    Kali hahapo could well be contemporary or modern design of the 20^th C.   At 18” (45.7cm) L x 6.25” (15.9cm)  H x 4.50” (11.4cm) W and with the taper of the horizontal section reducing to 2 9/32” (5.7cm)  from its ends at 3 1/2” (8.9cm) the curves are quite apparent.   Reserve set well below “dealer price” for a comparable or even inferior piece, certainly less than an auction house. 

I am always interested in acquiring Tongan and Fijian clubs and will buy or trade for similar.