In the collection ofCleveland Museum of Art
The photograph is served by Cleveland Museum of Art and is not available from their site at the moment. See it on the museum's own record ↗
ZoomPhotograph © Cleveland Museum of ArtFull record at the museum ↗
Southern Africa
Headrest
Maker unknown · Southern Africa · c. 1910
Headrests allowed Shona men to protect their elaborate braids. Placed under the neck or chin, frequent contact with hair and hairdressing products darkened its top. Tool marks show how it was smoothed only where the skin would make contact. Linked intimately to their owner, headrests often became burial goods or heirlooms. Recent research suggests Shona headrests symbolized women; small projections on the supports likely reference scarification marks worn by women of marrying age. As only mature men used headrests, it reinforces their female symbolism and women's societal importance as wives.
— Cleveland Museum of Art, catalogue text
The same form in other collections
The pieces nearest to this one across the eight museums — by form, region and date together, not by keyword.
