A fine wooden Tongan kali (head rest) with three legs, produced out of a single piece of wood. This is a particularly elegant example, likely to have been used by a Tongan of high status.

Headrests were used in the Society Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji primarily as pillows. The head was regarded as sacred and should not be allowed to touch the ground. Headrests also kept the head cool at night. They were used by both men and women, but particularly men.

In Tonga a 'kali loa' is a long headrest but also refers to a mother's arms, where a child might rest their head for advice and protection.

This example was collected on Captain Cook's third voyage by William Griffin, cooper on 'HMS Resolution', a nice example of collecting for curiosity or sale by an ordinary member of the crew.