HEADREST/STOOL WITH ATTACHED CONTAINER
[1,2,4]: HEADREST/STOOL WITH ATTACHED CONTAINER
[3]: A Karo Ethiopian elder protects his styled hair by resting his head on his headrest/stool. The pictured object is of a different design yet also has an attached snuff container within reach
From: Arbore culture, Southern Ethiopia 🇪🇹Source [1,2,4]: @tribalgatheringlondon
Source [3]: John Warburton-Lee on mediastorehouse.co.uk
Source notes [1,2,4]: ”27 cm L. This headrest or stool has been carved from a tree branch into an animal-like form, with a ‘head’ at one end and three supporting ‘legs’. A pronounced ridge runs down the length of the underside of the flat upper support. A bone snuff container, adorned with small blue and red glass beads, is attached to the headrest with a woven leather strap. This honey-coloured headrest exhibits a smooth, glossy patina.”
Source notes [3]: “An elder of the Karo tribe rests with his head on his wooden headrest which protects his elaborate clay hairdo. Every man carries a headrest which doubles as a stool. This man has attached his snuffbox to it.”
Observations: ergonomics, design by responding to nature, simplicity, material intelligence, material as beauty, multi-functional design, zoomorphism, user experience (rest as function, design responds to that through form and added container), contextual design, portability, formal balance (leg and seat proportions).
