Nuer or Dinka headrest
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1966.1.1176
Country:
Sudan?
Cultural Group:
Nuer? Dinka?
Date Made:
By 1966
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Stained , Polished
Dimensions:
Ht = 232, seat L = 555, seat W = 23.5, seat th = 25.5, feet diam = 15.8 to 18 mm [RTS 25/7/2005].
Weight:
348.0 g
Local Name:
köm?
Other Owners:
This object was collected by Frederick John Jackson, and became part of the 'Batley Loan Collection', probably the former Bagshaw Museum in Bately; it was subsequently transferred to the Ipswich Museum, and then purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1966
Field Collector:
Frederick John Jackson
PRM Source:
Ipswich Museum per Patricia M. Butler
Acquired:
Purchased 1966
Collected Date:
By 1966
Description:
Headrest carved from a single piece of wood, stained a darker brown colour (Pantone Black 4C).
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.
It consists of a narrow horizontal seat across the top that undulates slightly along its length, and has a convex upper surface.
It tapers to a point at one end, which may represent a stylised head of an animal, with a longer tapering 'tail' at the opposite end.
Three shorter branches extend from the underside to form the legs, with 2 legs at the front end, splaying out in opposite directions, and the third leg extending down from the back; all three legs are comparatively straight.
The feet have been flattened and show signs of wear.
The headrest is complete, but has a small split running up from one foot.
It has a weight of 348 grams and is 232 mm high; the seat is 555 mm long, 23.5 mm wide and 25.5 mm thick, while the feet have a diameter of from 15.8 to 18 mm.
This object was collected by Frederick John Jackson, and became part of the 'Batley Loan Collection', probably the former Bagshaw Museum in Bately; it was subsequently transferred to the Ipswich Museum, and then purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1966.
The accession book entry suggested a possible Teso origin for this object, based on an illustration in M. Trowell and K.P. Wachsmann, 1953, The Tribal Crafts of Uganda, Pl. 36D. However the object illustrated, which is actually a stool, has a much wider, flat-cut seat, and is not a good parallel; a more likely origin is amongst the Nuer, or possibly Dinka of the Southern Sudan, who typically make use of slender headrests of this type. For similar pieces in the collection, see 1917.25.39-40, 1931.66.17-18, 1932.30.1, 1936.10.56, 1937.34.49, 1948.2.128 (all Nuer), 1934.8.17 (Dinka) and 1936.10.55 (Anuak). Evans-Pritchard identifies a similar 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).
Rachael Sparks 22/08/2005.
This object was collected by Frederick John Jackson, and became part of the 'Batley Loan Collection', probably the former Bagshaw Museum in Bately; it was subsequently transferred to the Ipswich Museum, and then purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1966.
The accession book entry suggested a possible Teso origin for this object, based on an illustration in M. Trowell and K.P. Wachsmann, 1953, The Tribal Crafts of Uganda, Pl. 36D. However the object illustrated, which is actually a stool, has a much wider, flat-cut seat, and is not a good parallel; a more likely origin is amongst the Nuer, or possibly Dinka of the Southern Sudan, who typically make use of slender headrests of this type. For similar pieces in the collection, see 1917.25.39-40, 1931.66.17-18, 1932.30.1, 1936.10.56, 1937.34.49, 1948.2.128 (all Nuer), 1934.8.17 (Dinka) and 1936.10.55 (Anuak). Evans-Pritchard identifies a similar 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).
Rachael Sparks 22/08/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
- East Africa, possibly Uganda, Teso.
Headrest made of branch with three side branches as legs.
Ref.
Trowell, M.
1953,
Tribal Crafts of Uganda
, Plate 36D.
Batley Coll.
Height 22 cm.
Length 55.6 cm.
Pre-PRM label - BATLEY LOAN COLL. [rectangular paper label, stuck to surface of object] [RTS 25/7/2005].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1966.1.1176 E. AFRICA, ?UGANDA, Headrest. Sir F. Jackson Coll. Obtd. Ipswich Museum [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object]; AFRICA, Sudan? Probably Nuer or Dinka. Wooden headrest. Purch. Ipswich Museum. 1966.1.1176 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 25/7/2005].
Pre-PRM label - BATLEY LOAN COLL. [rectangular paper label, stuck to surface of object] [RTS 25/7/2005].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1966.1.1176 E. AFRICA, ?UGANDA, Headrest. Sir F. Jackson Coll. Obtd. Ipswich Museum [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object]; AFRICA, Sudan? Probably Nuer or Dinka. Wooden headrest. Purch. Ipswich Museum. 1966.1.1176 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 25/7/2005].
