Description: This is an antique, hand carved, wooden African headrest which was tribally made from a single piece of wood by the Turkana tribe of Kenya. This African headrest measures 9 inches long across the top and 7.50 inches tall.African tribal people use their hairstyles to proudly show their age, gender and status. In the pastoralist Turkana culture, headrests are carved using a spear blade. These Turkana headrests are multifunctional objects for the Turkana. As Turkana hairstyles are often shaved on the back of the head and focus the hairstyle on the top, these serve to preserve the hairstyles as well as to support the heads and the flat, oval-shaped top surface also allows the headrest to serve as a small sitting stool. The elaborate tribal hairstyles are often embellished with beads, shells, butter and colored pigments. Most tribal hairstyles therefore require the use of a headrest which was used primarily to support the neck or back of the head in order to protect the hours of labor intense hair styling as the head could not be directly laid upon for sleep or rest. Headrest were brought with the owner everywhere they went so they could be used whenever required. This specimen is very desirable and would make a fine addition to any African collection. I combine shipping on multiple items so be sure to check out my ebay store where I have thousands of items to browse through. For buyers of multiple items please email me when you are done shopping for your custom made invoice with combined shipping & insurance fees.
Price: 85 USD
Location: Williams, Oregon
End Time: 2024-02-09T00:31:46.000Z
Shipping Cost: 15 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Tribe: Turkana
Maker: Turkana
Material: Wood
Original/Reproduction: Original
Color: Natural
