Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller

A Finely Carved ‘Boni’ Neck-Rest

About the Item

A Finely Carved ‘Boni’ Neck-Rest Superb dark colour and patination through extended use Wood Somalia 19th Century SIZE: 18.5cm high, 15.5cm wide - 7¼ ins high, 6 ins wide These headrests are used by nomadic Somali men and women in southern Somalia and north-eastern Kenya. The male type, as in this fine old example, have a relatively small base and are therefore unstable, making deep undisturbed sleep difficult, and enhancing the men’s vigilance in the night. The women’s type have a more stable base. The extensive Islamic influence in the region is reflected in the guilloche patterning carved on the sides of the headrest which ensures God’s protection for the sleeper. Provenance: Ex Susan Montiel-Colmenares, London, circa 1970 Ex Private collection CF: Pierre Loos, Bayet et Caltaux, ‘La tête dans les étoiles. Appuis-Nuque d’Afrique et d’ailleurs’, BRUNEAF, 2012: pg. 101 EXHIBITED: BRUNEAF, Bruxelles, Belgium ‘La tête dans les étoiles’. Appuis-nuque d'Afrique et d’ailleurs’, 6 - 10 June 2012
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU9363239430962
More From This SellerView All
  • A Rare and Finely Carved Egyptian Wooden Headrest
    Located in London, GB
    A Rare and Finely Carved Egyptian Wooden Headrest with a Carved Head to both Sides Representing the God ‘Bes’ (Protector of the Homestead) above Carved...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • A Rare and Exceptional Carved Headrest ‘Kali Hahapo’
    Located in London, GB
    A Rare and Exceptional Carved Headrest ‘Kali Hahapo’ Excellent colour and patina Wood, sennet (coconut fibre), glass beads Tonga Late 18th / Early 19th Century SIZE: 19cm high, 5...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Tongan Tribal Art

    Materials

    Natural Fiber, Glass, Wood, Coconut

  • An Exceptional Eastern Cape Nguni Pipe Bowl and Stem
    Located in London, GB
    An Exceptional Eastern Cape Nguni Pipe Bowl and Stem Wood, metal Old inscription and dated: ‘1892’ South Africa 19th Century Size: 45.5cm long - 18 ins long Published: ‘The ...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century South African Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • An Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master'
    Located in London, GB
    A Rare and Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master’ Depicting a Zulu elder wearing a head-ring Superb silky reddish brown patina Late 19th Century ...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century South African Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • A Very Fine and Rare Headrest ‘Kali’ or ‘Kalimasi’ / ‘Kali Toloni’
    Located in London, GB
    A Very Fine and Rare Headrest ‘Kali’ or ‘Kalimasi’ / ‘Kali Toloni’ Bamboo, wood, coconut ‘sennet’ fibre The ‘cross-bar’ (rest) engraved with triangular design reminiscent of ‘Tapa Cloth’ Two old paper labels, one stating African origin Superb colour and patina from age and use Tonga 18th - early 19th Century SIZE: 12.5cm high, 44cm long - 5 ins high, 17¼ ins long PROVENANCE: Tennant’s Auction Rooms, Yorkshire, July 2009, lot 314, entered privately from the grand daughter and descendant of an eccentric antiques dealer from Harrogate, who used to ride around the town in a ‘trap’ pulled by a zebra ! to the amusement of the townsfolk William Young (auctioneer, dealer, collector) died 1930’s Miss Young (grand-daughter) Ex Finch and Co...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Tongan Tribal Art

    Materials

    Bamboo, Natural Fiber, Wood, Coconut

  • A Rare and Historically Important Artefact Recovered from HMS Adventure in 1775
    Located in London, GB
    A Rare and Historically Important Artefact Recovered from HMS Adventure in 1775 after Captain James Cook’s Second Voyage to the Pacific A ‘coconut husker’ made by a ship’s carpenter aboard HMS Adventure in the style and design of a Native Islander’s ethnographical ‘coconut husker’ An engraved and inscribed copper plaque: A memento from The Sandwich Islands Coconut Husker used aboard HMS Adventure and recovered from The Royal Dockyard Deptford 1775 Oak, iron, brass, copper, handmade iron screws Fine rich colour and patina England / Sandwich Island 18th Century SIZE: 15.5cm high, 49.5cm long, 20cm wide (max) - 6¹⁄₈ ins high, 19½ ins long, 7⁷⁄₈ ins wide (max) Provenance: Found in a Scottish attic after centuries of lying hidden in a crate Ex Private Scottish collection Captain James Cook’s second voyage aboard the Resolution and accompanied by HMS Adventure set sail in July 1772. The discovery of the southern eight islands of the Sandwich Islands group was in 1775. The given name was chosen in honour of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty. The copper plaque and inscription however should not be read as The Sandwich Islands ‘Owhyhee’ (The Hawaiian Islands) which were later discovered on January 18th, 1778, on Captain Cook’s third voyage. Rather the inscription refers to ‘South Sandwich Islands’ lying to the south east of South Georgia and only renamed later with the word ‘South’ to distinguish them from the ‘Sandwich Islands’ now known as the Hawaiian Islands. Not withstanding during Cook’s second voyage he visited Easter Island, Tahiti, Society Islands, Niue, Tonga, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Norfolk Islands, Palmerston Island and South Georgia. The crew onboard having been exposed to various types of ‘coconut huskers’ adapted those designs into the example we now see, having been rescued from HMS Adventure in 1775. A rare example of 18th century cross...
    Category

    Antique 16th Century American Tribal Art

    Materials

    Brass, Copper, Iron

You May Also Like
  • African Tribal Art Fine Shona Neck Rest Head Rest
    Located in London, GB
    A fine shona head rest neck rest Raised on a single central pillar finely carved with geometric designs Shona Zimbabwe Measures: Height 5 inches, width 6...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century Zimbabwean Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • African Tribal Art Fine Zulu Neck Rest Head Rest South Africa
    Located in London, GB
    A fine Zulu head rest neck rest South Africa Raised on central pillars with geometric lozenge shaped carving all over. Measures: 22 x 14 x 5 cm approx. Period Early 20th century Ex U...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century Zimbabwean Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • Finely Carved Tanzanian Chieftain's Stool
    Located in London, GB
    This beautifully carved title stool, from the Gogo culture in Tanzania, features a wonderful looped and adjoining structure. Dating back to the mid-twentieth century, this fine examp...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • Early Twentieth-Century Finely Carved Small Chair
    Located in London, GB
    This early twentieth-century small chair displays a beautiful form. Typically low to the ground, such chairs are found among the Dan and Baule cultures in the Ivory Coast. Carved fro...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Zulu Tribal Carved Wood Snuff Container, South Africa Finely Carved Incised
    Located in Point Richmond, CA
    Zulu Tribal carved wood Snuff Container, South Africa A finely carved snuff container with finely carved incised great geometric designs, a great example of the detailed work the Zu...
    Category

    Early 20th Century South African Tribal Tribal Art

    Materials

    Wood

  • Mid-Twentieth Century Finely Carved Food Bowl Depicting Two Ducks
    Located in London, GB
    This fine mid-twentieth-century bowl, from the Lozi culture in Zambia, would have been traditionally used to serve and store food. The bowl's base has been made from a single piece of wood, and two beautifully carved ducks decorate the lid. Animals depicted on Lozi bowls were often species that could be found inhabiting the shores of the Zambezi River...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Zambian Tribal Tribal Art

    Materials

    Hardwood

Recently Viewed

View All