Red Lacquer Hide Pillow

Dated to the mid-19th century, this extraordinary Chinese headrest was hand-crafted of lacquered hide and painted with delicate floral motifs. Used while sleeping like a modern pillow, the headrest has a pliable design that enabled contour comfort - quite luxurious for the time. The front is painted with a crane beneath delicate plum blossoms, symbols of winter and longevity. This motif conveys the wish for a loving wife and son, a reference to the Song-dynasty poet Lin Hejing. The opposite side is painted with a pheasant beneath peony blossoms, symbols of love, beauty, and summertime. Elevated by a custom steel mount, the rare headrest becomes a storied work of sculpture.