Turkana Headrest with Engraved Elephants

The Turkana and their neighbors use a variety of headrest forms, of which this inverted U-shape is among the most popular. Two distinct sub-variations exist: those which are carved from the fork of an acacia tree, and those made from a straight trunk or branch fashioned into a think plank, then scored, soaked, bent and dried into an inverted U. This example is of the purely carved, and more common, variety. A significant proportion of these bear incised abstract designs or pictographs on their side panels. Figural subject matter is generally confined to livestock such as cattle and camels, or wildlife, typically giraffes, oryx and ostriches. Frequently livestock and wildlife are intermixed over the side panels, often in rows arranged vertically, one above the next, often without a line separating upper and lower sections. This is the only Turkana headrest I have come across that references elephants — and only the head at that. Elephants are scarce in Turkanaland (northwest Kenya) today, although a few remain in and around Mt. Kulal and South Turkana reserves. In addition to the elephant imagery there are also depictions of cattle, their bodies filled in with vertical stripes. This may only be intended to be read as shading, however, the Turkana are practitioners of the “pattern branding.” This involves cattle owners selecting “favorite oxen” from among their herds and neutering them via castration (sometimes by knife but often with a wooden mallet). Steers with pure white, pale roan or yellow coats are preferred. The light color creates a better background for the beautification of the animals by way of burning circular or striped patterns of their flanks with a hot poker. Vertical, zebra-like stripes are among the more popular designs. This is an especially beautiful and rare Turkana headrest. $500

8″

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