Carved wooden headrest. The seat is rectangular and concavely curved, with curved ends. The seat is supported by a curved stand which narrows in the centre and flares out at the feet. The seat, stand and foot are decorated with patterns of metal solder - mostly aluminium, with copper on the seat. Nailed to the side of the stand are two loops of coloured beadwork on hide. [EH [OPS Move] 27/3/2017]

Collection type: Object
Description: Carved wooden headrest. The seat is rectangular and concavely curved, with curved ends. The seat is supported by a curved stand which narrows in the centre and flares out at the feet. The seat, stand and foot are decorated with patterns of metal solder - mostly aluminium, with copper on the seat. Nailed to the side of the stand are two loops of coloured beadwork on hide. [EH [OPS Move] 27/3/2017]
Long description: Carved wooden headrest. The seat is rectangular and concavely curved, with curved ends. The seat is supported by a curved stand which narrows in the centre and flares out at the feet. The seat, stand and foot are decorated with patterns of metal solder - mostly aluminium, with copper on the seat. Nailed to the side of the stand are two loops of coloured beadwork on hide. One of the loops has red, yellow and blue beads and the other has red, blue and black. [EH [OPS Move] 27/3/2017]
Geographical reference: Kenya
Africa > Eastern Africa > Kenya; East of Mount Elgon
Cultural groups: Tiati
Person: Maker Chumel; Field collector Jean Brown Sassoon; PRM source Jean Brown Sassoon
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1978
Date collected: By 1978
Acquisition information: Purchased: 1978
Materials and processes: Material Wood Plant, Material Animal Hide Skin, Material Aluminium Metal, Material Copper Metal, Material Bead, Process Carved, Process Decorated, Process Perforated, Process Beadwork, Process Nailed, Process Soldered
Dimensions: Height: max 170 mm, Width: max 95 mm, Length: max 170 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1978.20.35 Other numbers: JB159
Associated publications: Illustrated (author's drawing) as Figure 227 on page 233 of African Dream Machines: Style, Identity and Meaning of African Headrests, by Anitra Nettleton (Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2007). Caption (with image, same page) reads: '227. Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum (no. 1973.20.35 [sic]), collected by Jean Brown, Kenya, E of Mt Elgon, Pokot (Tiati Pokot), ngachar. Made by its owner, Chunel [sic], a herd-owner and member of the senior set of the junior generation in the age-set system, wood, leather, metal, beads, 17 cm h.' Also listed (same information) on page 453 of the 'List of Illustrations'. [SM 09/05/2008]

Search terms: Furniture Dwelling, Status, Headrest