Black Pokot Headrest/Stool

In traditional African societies which use them, headrests vary formally between ethnic groups, across geography, over time, and between age grades and genders. Some forms are shared between neighboring people in whole or in part through patronizing the same markets and carving communities. The Pokot are a prime example of an ethnic group whose headrests come in a variety of shapes, some being specific to young men, some being indistinguishable from their neighbors, and others being evolutionarily different by way of recent innovation. Three-legged headrest/stools, and the rarer four-legged variants, comprise a significant proportion of Pokot headrests in collections. Generally, three- and four-legged seats with a circular top are widespread throughout East Africa. What makes the Pokot seats different from those of the Luo, Maasai, Karamajong, Rendille and others is that Pokot examples have legs crowded closer to their center, with feet at the bottom that are splayed outwardly to compensate for the instability that clustered legs make inevitable.

Why do the Pokot do this? I believe the reason is that, contrary to how the aforementioned three- and four-legged headrest/stools are used in other societies, the Pokot carry their variation on the genre while tending their livestock, while the other peoples use their three-legged headrests/stools exclusively inside their homes. The presence of leather straps on many such Pokot headrests evidence the fact that they were carried, while the centrally clustered legs facilitate ergonomic portability under an arm or in a hand. As a point of comparison, among the Rendille, three- and four-legged mini stools are strictly for women and rarely see the light of day. As such, pieces of furniture that do not circulate in public have few opportunities to be seen by or sold to outsiders. Hence, despite the fact that every Rendille tent has at least one three- or four-legged headrest/stool, they are exceedingly rare in collections. Meanwhile, the multi-legged headrest/stools with circular tops are very well represented in Pokot culture and typically have outdoor, well-handled patinas. This particular example, however, is the exception to the rule. It has an indoors patina blackened by soot. Commercial metal tacks, most likely of European manufacture, decorate its seat.

7.5″ H