ETHIOPIAN OROMO HEADREST 205

This headrest is hand carved throughout, with no apparent use of a lathe on the base. The top is a separate piece, wedged on to the base piece. The headrest is in fairly good condition despite the visible cracks and chips.

In many African cultures, small wooden "pillows" are used to support the head during sleep and in some instances to preserve a hairstyle. In Ethiopia, the headrests come in several forms and relate to other intricate, but abstract works.