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Bamboo head or neckrest from Fiji, known as a kali ni bitu or kali nduvu. Very thick cylinder of bamboo, slightly curved, serves as the headrest, with solid fan-shaped feet at either end. The feet are attached to the bamboo with thin braided fiber covered with a black glue-like substance. The bamboo portion of the kali ni bitu is heavily carved. The carving includes geometric shapes and some words, inlcuding "Meliki" - possibly the name of the owner of the headrest.
headrests
bamboo (material)
wood (plant material)
Headrest
MELIKI / V I L I V / NAOMI (cut into)
E47,134
Original To Stephen Phillips House (Salem, Mass.),
E47,134
Unknown
Pacific Island Group
11 3/8 x 16 5/8 (HxW) (inches)
Gift of the Stephen Phillips Memorial Charitable Trust for Historic Preservation
2006.44.1143
http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3032/object/49643/Head_rest_%28Kali_ni_bitu%29
Fiji
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