Headrest: Female Caryatid Figure
19th century
Medium
Wood, beads, plant fiber
Dimensions
H. 6 3/8 × W. 5 1/8 × D. 4 in. (16.2 × 13 × 10.2 cm)
Classification
Wood-Furniture
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Margaret Barton Plass, in honor of William Fagg, C.M.G., 1981
Accession Number
1981.399
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Headrest: Female Caryid Figure*, crafted in the 19th century the Master of the Cascade Coiffure, exemplifies the fusion of utility and artistry in traditional African sculpture. Carved from wood and adorned with colorful beads and plant fiber, compact piece (6 3/8 × 5 1/8 × 4 in.) features a graceful female figure in the caryatid pose—oking ancient architectural supports—poised to cradle the sleeper's head. The master's distinctive style, hinted at by the name, likely highlights elaborate hairstyles, celebrating feminine beauty and poise. Headrests like this were essential in ...