Headrest - Wood, Bone

Traditional Gurage headrest (central Ethiopia), carved from a single block of wood. In Gurage culture these objects are used for sleeping, lifting the head off the ground, protecting elaborate hairstyles and keeping the body away from moisture. The arched shape with a solid base is typical of Gurage production, while the frontal figurative relief depicting a stylized face gives it an aesthetic character as well as a functional one. Patina, cracks, and signs of use indicate long handling and real use. An authentic ethnographic object collected in Ethiopia, today sought after also as a decorative and collectible item.