- 115
Bel appui-tête, îles Tonga, Polynésie occidentale
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 EUR
bidding is closed
Description
- Bel appui-tête
- long. 34,5 cm
- 13 1/2 in
kali, en bois dur, de forme classique évoquant, vu de face, un personnage stylisé. L'étroit linteau, légèrement incurvé, s'amincissant en son centre, est soutenu par quatre pieds anthropomorphes ligaturés à une traverse en bois au moyen de liens en fibres de coco tressées. Belle patine brun rouge nuancée, brillante.
Provenance
Ancienne collection écossaise
Condition
Good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Two narrow cracks to face, approximately 20cm and 5cm long. Crack to reverse of shaft, approximately 21.5cm, to end. Cracks to finial, longest approximately 8cm.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
La forme de cet appui-tête - utilisé comme oreiller pour ne pas déformer les coiffures élaborées des hauts dignitaires -, s'apparente au type d'appui-nuque collectés à Tonga lors du second et troisième voyage de Cook entre 1774 et 1778 (Kaeppler, 1978 : 228-229). Celui-ci se distingue par sa belle ligature ancienne, rare témoignage d'une technique disparue, identique à celle qu'utilisaient autrefois les constructeurs de pirogue tongiens (Kaeppler in Newton, 1998 : 311).