African Vintage Hand Carved Luba Tribe Headrest, Fine Art

African Art Tribal Luba Headrest

This is a vintage 20th century fine carved wood headrest, which was made by a member of the Luba (Baluba) tribe. The Luba people occupy a land of rivers and savanna in the southeast of what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is an unusual headrest with shows a woman threshing corn in a large bowl in front of her. The Baluba people believed that their ancestors could communicate with them through dreams, thus headrests were sometimes called ‘seats of dreams’. These elevated headrests not only elevated the head of its owner when resting – but also kept the very elaborate coiffures that were common with the Luba protected from being ruffled with they were sleeping. The intricate hairstyles served as the visual representation of their wearer’s social status, age, rank, and gender.

The headrest is a great conversation starter and will surely impress anyone who sees it. It is perfect for display in a living room, office or even a bedroom. The African Vintage Hand Carved Luba Tribe Headrest is a must-have for collectors of African culture and history.

Measurements are 8.2 inches by 7.5 inches