A rare Fijian Headrest 'Kali ni Bitu'
A rare Fijian Headrest 'Kali ni Bitu'. The bamboo top with wooden feet fastened on with plaited coir sinnet
19th Century
Size : 12 cm high x 28 cm wide
4¾ ins high x 11 ins wide
19th Century
Size : 12 cm high x 28 cm wide
4¾ ins high x 11 ins wide
Baron Anatole von Hugel in his Fiji Journals 1875 to 1877 (page 55), records that 'the pen occupied by the elder of the chiefs, who by the way appears to be the only one in constant residence, was small, and placed in the right hand corner of the house with a small doorway 'tabued' for his use. The furniture consisted of a mat, a "Kali" (headrest) and a coconut "Bilo" (drinking cup) : a small nicely finished club of the root kind ...'
A similar example to this one is illustrated in the Oldman catalogue No. 115 Vol 1X No. 4.
A similar example to this one is illustrated in the Oldman catalogue No. 115 Vol 1X No. 4.
A rare Fijian Headrest 'Kali ni Bitu'
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