Headrest (xikhigelo)
Artist
Tsonga artist
Datecirca 1875–1905
MediumWood and metal
Dimensions6 x 6 1/16 x 3 1/8 in. (15.2 x 15.4 x 7.9 cm)
ClassificationsWood
Credit LineGift of Nancy Battle Foster
Object number2016.22.2
On View
On viewThough diminutive in size, this exquisite headrest illustrates that even practical items of everyday use were artistically embellished. This beauty communicated their importance to those who owned them as well as the owner’s status to those who encountered them.
ProvenanceCollected by Marcus Milton Bridgers (1868–1935), Mpumalanga province (formerly Eastern Transvaal), South Africa, or Southern Mozambique, ca. 1897–1905; exported to United States, early 20th century; by descent to Nancy Battle Foster, Greensboro, NC; given to NCMA, 2016.
Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–present. Object Rights Statement
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