Pokot Headrest with Aluminum Decoration

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. Pokot three-legged headrest/stools and the rarer four-legged variants comprise a significant proportion of Pokot headrests in collections. This particular example is a 1980s variation on an older style that incorporates a saddle, showing influences from northern neighbors such as the Turkana as well as peoples of the Omo Valley even further north. Aluminum alloy inlay, made from segments of recycled fence and electrical wire, decorate the surface and accentuate the form. $475

7.5″ H

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