Headrest
Unknown
20th century · Wood · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Carvers across southern and eastern Africa developed a diverse range of headrests. Design elements of the elongated form favored in Eswatini combine metaphors relating to wives, agriculture, and cattle. Patterns on the rests’ flared legs refer to the pleated cowhide skirts worn by married Swazi women; extensions at either end constitute tails and umbilical cords.
- Artist
- Unknown
- Date
- 20th century
- Medium
- Wood
- Culture
- Swazi peoples
- Department
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Credit line
- Gift of Bill and Gale Simmons, 1993
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