Oromo Wood Headrest, Ethiopia

Patiently, a glossy red-brown head rest balanced on a smooth cone like a spinning top.

This carved wooden headrest is Oromo, from Ethiopia, East Africa. It is carved wood. Headrests were used across much of East Africa to support the neck during sleep, helping to keep elaborate hairstyles intact, and they were often carved from a single block of wood. Placed center frame, a long, dished top with raised ends sits on a slim neck above a wide, smooth cone. The finish is a polished reddish brown, with soft grain showing through. A pale strip near the top edge breaks up the glossy color. It is 6.75 inches wide, 4.4 deep and 5.6 high.

A graceful curve on a pointy hat, perfectly balanced.