In many African cultures, wooden headrests were carved to enable people to sleep without spoiling their hairstyles; they were oftentimes indicative of age, gender and status.
The headrest also played a role in nuptial ceremonies. A groom would place currency under his bride's headrest on the eve of consummation as the bride could then take the money to buy an amber necklace to cement her new status as a married woman.
Headrests came in several forms and relate to other intricate but abstract works.
These headrests were generally curved, containing U-shaped surfaces of varying curved diameters and depths for the head to rest on, with a long stem that sits atop a circular base, such as this one from the Afar region of Ethiopia.
*Our pieces at Studio Zagara may show signs of age and wear, which is just how we like them. They carry with them years of history, so any imperfections should not be viewed as damaged or flawed, but rather the combined stories of people’s lives and experiences.
