Headrest
ClassificationsFurnishings-Furniture-headrests
Cultureprobably
Kaara
Date20th Century
Made AtEthiopia, Africa
MediumWood and leather
Dimensions7 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (19.1 × 19.1 × 14 cm)
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Object number2019.22.8
DescriptionA member of the Kaara culture of Ethiopia made this headrest sometime in the 20th Century, though similar saddle-shaped wooden headrests are made in the border region between Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. Headrests are commonly used throughout Africa to help protect intricate coiffures while resting, though in many cases they carry with them a certain degree of spiritual meaning or prestige. Like many African headrests, this saddle-shaped design allows the object to be used as either a stool or a headrest. Among many of the other groups that used this style of headrest, it was reserved for usage by men who carried them on their belts using the attached ring.On View
Not on view
