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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.
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Title: Zoomorphic headrest
Artist:
Mdluli family of artists
Date: 20th century
Geography: Eswatini, Lomohasha village
Culture: Swazi peoples
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: H. 5 3/4 × W. 21 1/4 × D. 4 5/8 in. (14.6 × 54 × 11.7 cm)
Classification: Wood-Furniture
Credit Line: Gift of Bill and Gale Simmons, 1993
Object Number: 1993.384.8
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