Old Beautiful Hemba Headrest – DR Congo

Mid 20th century. Carved wood. Cm. 17,3 high and cm. 15,5 width (6.81″ x 6.10″). Grams 323,9 (11.43 oz,).

A female Hemba headrest, sitting on a wooden base, legs apart, thick cylindric bust, wide long opened arms lifted above the head to support the neck rest, the head is nicely carved with impressive features that reveal a calm and serene face, she has three necklaces around her neck, and scarifications on her storage, her hair is pulled back in an elegant manner; minor cracks, glossy by use.

It is popularly believed that the headrest serves a protective function by elevating the head off the ground during sleep, thereby preventing any possible attack by snakes or scorpions. Men’s headrests, such as this one, generally feature a smaller base that makes them somewhat unstable to sleep on, while the rectangular bases of women’s headrests are usually more stable. Scholars suggest that this instability is purposeful as it prevents the user from falling into a deep sleep while guarding the herds at night.

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