Headrest

ClassificationsFurnishings-Furniture-headrests

Culture Dinka

Date20th Century

Made AtSouth Sudan, Africa

MediumWood

Dimensions9 3/4 × 25 1/4 × 4 1/8 in. (24.8 × 64.1 × 10.5 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2019.15.26

DescriptionThis is a Dinka headrest from South Sudan. As with much of sub-Saharan eastern Africa, the headrest is not imbued with any 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 a status symbol. Amongst the Dinka, tribal elders also used headrests as stools as it was considered poor form to sit on the floor.

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