African Headrest

This headrest comes from 20th century Kenya, hand-carved from one piece of indigenous wood. Headrests held great value to North Western nomadic pastoral tribes of Kenya as they have a cultural custom of wearing elaborate coiffures. Headrests helped to preserve these hairstyles when sleeping, protecting against dust and insects. As one of the few possessions travelled with, the headrest is light in weight. The two holes indicate the use of a leather band as a handle for easy travel. The headrest was carved with a soft curve at the top and a thin neck to support the user's head and ensure comfort. With its sculptural form and clean design, this headrest would make an intriguing display.