Headrest (wood & textile)

Adult males used headrests of this type to keep their elaborate, oiled coiffures from being flattened or soiled by dust. Although intricate ornamental hairstyles with glass beads are no longer common among Shona and Tsonga peoples, headrests continue to serve religious and ritual functions. They are associated with the ancestors and used by mediums to communicate with the spirit world. Headrests have also been linked to the widespread belief in Shona society that dreams are an important means for acquiring knowledge and resolving problems. Dreams are believed to assist artists, especially musicians and sculptors, in realizing their creations.