In Africa, carved wooden headrests served to support the head and protect complex hairstyles while sleeping. But beyond this role, headrests conveyed information about the social status, affiliation, taste of the men who carried them, and in some cultures also functioned as mediators to ancestor spirits through dreams.

This small-format catalogue accompanying a focus exhibition contains an explanatory text by curator Yael Eshel, beautiful images of the intricately carved and decorated objects, and photographs illustrating their use. Many of the headrests featured in the exhibition were gifted to the Museum from the collection of Dr. Shalom Salomon Wald.

English-Hebrew