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Headrest, early 20th Century
Dinka culture; South Sudan
Wood and metal; 8 1/4 × 24 × 4 1/2 in…
Headrest
Headrest, early 20th Century
Dinka culture; South Sudan
Wood and metal; 8 1/4 × 24 × 4 1/2 in…
Headrest, early 20th Century Dinka culture; South Sudan Wood and metal; 8 1/4 × 24 × 4 1/2 in. 2018.13.4 Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Headrest

ClassificationsFurnishings-Furniture-headrests
Culture Dinka
Dateearly 20th Century
Made AtSouth Sudan, Africa
MediumWood and metal
Dimensions8 1/4 × 24 × 4 1/2 in. (21 × 61 × 11.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2018.13.4
DescriptionHeadrests produced by the Dinka of South Sudan primarily depicted cattle, as seen here stylistically, which were intrinsic to the Dinka way of life. As with much of sub-Saharan eastern Africa, the headrest is not imbued with any particular spiritual meaning, but it does play the usual role in keeping one’s head off of the ground while sleeping and protecting one’s coiffure. An elaborate hairstyle was seen as a status symbol. Amongst the Dinka, tribal elders also used headrests as stools as it was considered poor form to sit on the floor. Throughout Africa, headrests are often supplemented with metal, either by inlay or by methods like fitting shell casings over wooden protrusions.
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