A Fine ‘Old Dry’ South African Headrest Shona / Tsonga

Period: 1800-1900

Origin: South Africa

Medium: Wood, hair, Beads

Dimension: 14 x 17 x 9.5 cm (5¹/₂ x 6³/₄ x 3³/₄ inches)

Provenance: Ex Private collection Edric Van Vredenburgh, published no. 205, vol 2, EVV collection catalogue 2014
Purchased Colin Gross, Portobello Road, London 1970’s

Literature: The carvers of South African headrests were always male, but not necessarily specialist craftsmen. As H.P Junod states ‘many carved their own sticks, spoons, snuff boxes, and above all wooden pillows or headrests’ (H.P Junod ‘The Arts and Crafts of North Eastern Tribes of South Africa’. 1958 pg. 77)
     Headrests were personal items for private use and were not made for public display. They were not indicators of status or rank, or used at communal events, but over time would become one with their owner, changing with their life as they became imbued with their spirit and were oiled and polished by their owners hair and body. The headrest was therefore regarded as an integral part of its owner and upon death was often buried with him.
     However, sometimes headrests were kept as a way of establishing a bond between the living and their ancestors. One dreamt of them when sleeping on their former pillow: ‘the support of dreams’.