Somali Wood Barshin or Headrest

A shallow crescent on two long legs, with a carved band around its ankles.

This barshin or headrest is Somali, from Ethiopia, East Africa, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved wood. In the Horn of Africa, headrests like this were commonly used by herders to lift the head from the ground at night, saving a careful hairstyle and keeping insects at bay. Two curving legs rise from a small oval base to support the upturned bar. A band of incised interlace runs around the base, and the wood carries a mellow brown patina with lighter wear on the high points. It is 6.25 inches wide and 7.75 high.

Proof that a good night's sleep can be built from very little.