Zulu Headrest Isigqiki Wide Legs South African Artifact

This is a simply carved and a beautiful mid 20th century example that will add a unique neckrest in any collection. Zulu headrests are known as Isigqiki (Izigqiki) or Isicamelo, . Elaborate ones  are more likely associate  with the Chiefdoms. But anyone can have his / he headrest as a personal object. In the past a Zulu woman prior to her marriage would have a headrest carved for her future husband and one for herself and will be presented to her groom at their wedding, as par of the weddingtousseau (Umaho). A bride can also receive a headrest as a wedding present from her in-father-in-law. (see Lindsay Hooper, Domestic Arts: Carved wooden Objects in the Home. p. 87, in Zulu Treasures. Amagugu KaZulu. 1996, figs W45-W53

 See more similar examples in The Art of Southeast Africa from the Conru Collection, figs. 65-66

Dewey, William J. (ed), Sleeping Beauties, 1993, The Regents of the University of California, UCLA, Los Angeles, fig.78