Wood Somali Boni Headrest Pillow. Fracture repaired with a metal plate and nails. Delicate carvings on the side supports and top.
From the estate of Beverly Hills socialite Connie Wald, and Producer/screenwriter Jerry Wald. Last photo in the listing shows a room in the Wald home, with this item on the coffee table (one of two).
Men in East Africa use headrests both as pillows and as indicators of status. This type of man's headrest is used by the Boni of northeastern Kenya and southern Somalia and by Somali nomads. Men's headrests generally feature a smaller, less stable base. The patterns reflect the Islamic influence in the region. Somali and Boni nomads make use of two types of headrests; one with a single cylindrical supporting column and one with a double column. It appears that the different styles are for men of different status, with the single-columned variety for young men and the double-columned variety reserved for elders. 1lb.
Approx. 6 inches x 7 in. x 2.75 in.
Domestic Shipping: $40

Condition commensurate with age, wear