Nuer headrest
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1932.30.2
Country:
Sudan
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1931
Materials:
Wood Plant , Brass Metal
Process:
Carved , Cast ? , Recycled , Stamped , Inscribed
Dimensions:
Ht = 178; seat L = 626, W = 37.2, th = 25.4; max diam legs = 33 to 35 mm; cartridge body diam = 13.8 mm [RTS 3/6/2005].
Weight:
398.7 g
Local Name:
köm?
Field Collector:
Charles Armine Willis
PRM Source:
Charles Armine Willis
Acquired:
Donated 1932
Collected Date:
1931
Description:
Headrest carved from a single piece of orangey brown wood (Pantone 729C).
This is an example of 'found form', with a naturally grown branch specifically chosen because its shape, with subsidiary branches coming off the main stem to form the three feet, was suitable for making a headrest.
The form may be intended to represent a stylised animal.
It consists of an elongated seat that is almost lentoid in plan view, with its widest point at the centre and then tapering to either end.
This is slightly concave along its length, but convex across the width.
The seat has been carved with curved ends, that stand slightly proud of the surface of the parent branch, which continues on either side as more slender tapering branches to form the 'head' and 'tail' of the animal.
Both are round in section.
The head has been fitted with a recycled brass cartridge case, cut short across its base and with a closed, flanged top that is stamped with the letters: 'S [I ?] M' and then an illegible marking [33?] that represents the cartridge gauge.
The tail has been fitted with a second casing, in this case open at both ends and forced part way down the branch.
Both are a metallic yellow colour (Pantone 871C).
The underside of the seat is convex, and has a short pedestal extending from its centre that divides into 3 splaying legs with irregular bases that show traces of use wear.
The top of the pedestal has a raised ridge carved around its circumference.
The headrest is complete, but the tail has been broken off and reattached, while there is a small crack along one of the legs.
It has a weight of 398.7 grams and is 178 mm high; the seat is 626 mm long, 37.2 mm wide and 25.4 mm thick, while the legs have a diameter of from 33 to 35 mm around their upper parts and the cartridge on the seat tip has a body diameter of 13.8 mm.
Collected by Charles Armine Willis in 1931 from the Western Nuer. He does not record the local name for the object, but Evans-Pritchard identifies another Nuer headrest made from a naturally forked branch as a köm (see 1937.34.49), although he also uses this term for Anuak examples (see 1936.10.55-6).
Objects like these were used by men to protect their elaborate hairstyles. Willis described the Nuer practice of covering their hair with a paste made of clay, cow dung and urine, and then shaping it into the desired style, such as a cock's comb, or a peak at front or back. This treatment gradually wears off, staining the hair a reddish colour, and then the hair needs to be redone. Domville-Fife describes a similar process for the Shilluk in some detail, although amongst that group hair is dressed by a specialist barber, and is a costly process (C.W. Domville Fife, 1927, Savage Life in the Black Sudan, pp 71-76).
This type of lightweight headrest, made from a tree branch, is made by a number of Nilotic groups; for further Nuer examples, see 1917.25.39-40, 1931.66.17-18, 1936.10.56, 1937.34.49, 1948.2.128; for Dinka examples, see 1934.8.17, and for examples from the Anuak, see 1936.10.55.
Rachael Sparks 22/08/2005.
Collected by Charles Armine Willis in 1931 from the Western Nuer. He does not record the local name for the object, but Evans-Pritchard identifies another Nuer headrest made from a naturally forked branch as a köm (see 1937.34.49), although he also uses this term for Anuak examples (see 1936.10.55-6).
Objects like these were used by men to protect their elaborate hairstyles. Willis described the Nuer practice of covering their hair with a paste made of clay, cow dung and urine, and then shaping it into the desired style, such as a cock's comb, or a peak at front or back. This treatment gradually wears off, staining the hair a reddish colour, and then the hair needs to be redone. Domville-Fife describes a similar process for the Shilluk in some detail, although amongst that group hair is dressed by a specialist barber, and is a costly process (C.W. Domville Fife, 1927, Savage Life in the Black Sudan, pp 71-76).
This type of lightweight headrest, made from a tree branch, is made by a number of Nilotic groups; for further Nuer examples, see 1917.25.39-40, 1931.66.17-18, 1936.10.56, 1937.34.49, 1948.2.128; for Dinka examples, see 1934.8.17, and for examples from the Anuak, see 1936.10.55.
Rachael Sparks 22/08/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
72] 1932 [insert, in pencil] 30 [end insert]
C.
ARMINE WILLIS,
Esq.
- Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, viz.
[insert, pencil] 1-2 [end insert] - [One of] 2 wooden head-rests, NUER tribe, WESTERN KORDOFAN, 1931.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan, Kordofan. Western NUER tribe. Wooden headrest. dd C.A. Willis 1932. 1932.30.2 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 3/6/2005].
Written on object - Head-rest. Western Nuer, E. SUDAN. Colld 1931 and presd 1932 by C. Armine Willis [RTS 3/6/2005].
Related Documents File - This item appears on typewritten list RDF 1932.30.1-15, under list item 4: 'Two Nuer pillows, of wood. The Nuer youths, dress their hair, or get their girl friends to dress it for them. The hair is covered with a paste of clay, cow dung and urine, and then shaped to the fancy of the designer, sometimes into a cock's comb, sometimes into a peak in front or behind. The cake gradually wears away, and the hair is stained a reddish colour, and this gradually dies down, and the hair is ready for re-dressing. To protect the shape, the wearer sleeps with his head supported on a wooden pillow. Collected in 1931, [insert] Western Nuer [end insert]'.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan, Kordofan. Western NUER tribe. Wooden headrest. dd C.A. Willis 1932. 1932.30.2 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 3/6/2005].
Written on object - Head-rest. Western Nuer, E. SUDAN. Colld 1931 and presd 1932 by C. Armine Willis [RTS 3/6/2005].
Related Documents File - This item appears on typewritten list RDF 1932.30.1-15, under list item 4: 'Two Nuer pillows, of wood. The Nuer youths, dress their hair, or get their girl friends to dress it for them. The hair is covered with a paste of clay, cow dung and urine, and then shaped to the fancy of the designer, sometimes into a cock's comb, sometimes into a peak in front or behind. The cake gradually wears away, and the hair is stained a reddish colour, and this gradually dies down, and the hair is ready for re-dressing. To protect the shape, the wearer sleeps with his head supported on a wooden pillow. Collected in 1931, [insert] Western Nuer [end insert]'.
