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Lot 108
Headrest, Atiu, Nga-Pu-Toru Island, Cook Islands
11 May 2021, 11:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$8,287.50 inc. premium
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Headrest, Atiu, Nga-Pu-Toru Island, Cook Islands
uranga
Wood
width 16 1/4in (41.2cm)
Provenance
Nelly Van de Abbeele Collection, Brussels/Amsterdam
Christie's, Amsterdam, 6 December 1999, Lot 536
Unidentified Private Collection
Christie's, Paris, June 2005, Lot 90
Constantine Simeonidis Collection, France
Galerie Frank Marcelin, Paris
Marc Assayag/Tookalook, Montreal
Patrick and Ondine Mestdagh, Brussels
Dr. Martin Hiscock Collection, South Yarra
Jason Earle-Sprague Collection; Melbourne
The urunga (headrest) is very often misidentified as a no'o'anga, (a seat), in museums, collections and auction catalogues. Although both the urunga and the no'o'anga followed essentially the same design within the Cook Islands, the elements which define the urunga are: smaller; lower profile; less curvature to rectangular platform (all in line with its function as a headrest); legs set farther towards the ends of rectangular platform, necessitated by the platform being both longer and lower, whereas, in no'o'anga,, the legs are closer to the center, so as to provide centralized support for the greater weight of the body.
Wood
width 16 1/4in (41.2cm)
Provenance
Nelly Van de Abbeele Collection, Brussels/Amsterdam
Christie's, Amsterdam, 6 December 1999, Lot 536
Unidentified Private Collection
Christie's, Paris, June 2005, Lot 90
Constantine Simeonidis Collection, France
Galerie Frank Marcelin, Paris
Marc Assayag/Tookalook, Montreal
Patrick and Ondine Mestdagh, Brussels
Dr. Martin Hiscock Collection, South Yarra
Jason Earle-Sprague Collection; Melbourne
The urunga (headrest) is very often misidentified as a no'o'anga, (a seat), in museums, collections and auction catalogues. Although both the urunga and the no'o'anga followed essentially the same design within the Cook Islands, the elements which define the urunga are: smaller; lower profile; less curvature to rectangular platform (all in line with its function as a headrest); legs set farther towards the ends of rectangular platform, necessitated by the platform being both longer and lower, whereas, in no'o'anga,, the legs are closer to the center, so as to provide centralized support for the greater weight of the body.














