Images(5)

Neckrest (barkin)

Artist Somali or Kenyan artist

Dateearly-mid 20th century

MediumWood

Dimensions7 × 6 × 3 1/8 in. (17.8 × 15.2 × 7.9 cm)

ClassificationsWood

Credit LineGift of Ernie Wolfe III and Diane Steinmetz Wolfe

Object number2019.23.2

On View

On view

Label TextOften considered to be both useful and beautiful objects, headrests are created to protect elaborate hairstyles or headdresses. They may also convey a user’s status and membership in an age grade (a specific generation).

Like many works in the African collections, this headrest is listed with two possible places of origin. This reflects the fact that many African cultural or language groups are not located within a single contemporary country. Nomadic and seminomadic groups cross between boundaries during seasonal movements. Colonial boundaries that later became national purposefully divided cultural groups to decrease the power of local leaders.ProvenanceCreated in Somalia or Kenya, before 1976; purchased in the field by Ernest Ervin Wolfe III, Los Angeles, 1976; given to NCMA, 2019.Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–present. Object Rights Statement

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) makes images of its collection available online to support research and scholarship and to inform and educate the public. Certain works of art, as well as the photographs of those works of art, may be protected by copyright, trademark, or related interests not owned by the NCMA. The responsibility for ascertaining whether any such rights exist and for obtaining all other necessary permissions remains with the applicant. To request images and/or permissions from the NCMA, please complete our online request form.