"Embrace" Luba Headrest Sculpture

c. 1900
$2,880 USD
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Dimensions
W: 11.0" D: 6.75" H: 15.25"
Materials
Wood
Purchase Quantity
Collection #
CAA0761
Estimated Shipping
$250

The Luba people of Zaire believed that ancestors visited them through dreams. This belief led to elaborately worked headrests, known as "seats of dreams." Such headrests were used to preserve the elaborate hairstyles of the high-status Luba-Shankadi woman while they slept. This large-scale, sculptural headrest shows a pair of figures embracing one another, an inventive and highly respected configuration for this type of object. The wonderful, dark polish on the figures intensifies the lighter incised markings.

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Headrests

Headrests and neck pillows have been used since ancient times to keep the head elevated while sleeping and hold the body in a comfortable position. Whether functional or purely decorative, such headrests were crafted from a variety of materials and were often decorated with elaborate patterns or symbolic motifs.

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Andrea Goldman | Andrea Goldman Design

“Over the years, I’ve incorporated many pieces from PAGODA RED into my designs. Not only can they balance new furnishings (and often new construction) by feeling more established, but the pieces emanate a sense of rich history, often leaving you wondering where they were in a previous life. These beautiful pieces carefully hand-selected by the team at PAGODA RED, coupled with their unbelievable customer service, make them a must-have for any home.”

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