Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

Beautiful headrest from Jimma region. This wooden headrest is carved from a single piece of wood on a conical base, the edges of which curve slightly inwards. The conical base has some cracks which do not alter otherwise the beauty of the object.

An Oromo headrest with rare shape, the exact ethnic origin could not be defined.

Marvellous piece of wood from Gurage Tribe. Nice patina due to the butter used by Gurage in their hairstyle. Piece for collectors or someone that like to decor house or for interior design

Beautiful headrest from Jimma region. The conical base of this wooden headrest is made from a single piece of wood and decorated with circular lines. The crescent upper platform is a different piece of wood fixed on the base. Perfect condition and nice patina.

The different ethnic group of Wollayta, Sidamo, Hadiya region of the central Ethiopian highlands have a long-standing tradition with varying types of headrest used by different age or gender segments. This headrest made out of a single piece of wood has a beautiful patina and is in perfect condition

Nice headrest in light reddish wood.

The conical base is carved with several concentric rings around. The horizontal, crescent platform is mounted as a separate piece on the base. Excellent condition and beautiful patina.

Beautiful headrest from Jimma region. This entire headrest is from a single piece of wood on a conical base, the edges of which curve slightly inwards. It looks like a mechanical tool has been used for the base.

Perfect condition and patina.

Headrest probably Jille , Oromo region. Beutiful patina.

Various population in Shoa (Wollo) may use similar headrests. The headrest has  a nice warm patina.

Small and simple headrest

This unique headrest in leather is in perfect condition. Similar headrest may be found among the Gurage.

Headrest with conical base decorated with red and white small beads. There are marks of rat teeth on the lateral supports and the platform

Wooden headrest on a convex ridged base with two flat supports on the outside joining the base to the end of the convex platform. The central support is pierced by eight vertical rectangular openings, the bases and the support are decorated with incised pattern and composed of either parallel lines or fishbone motifs.

Original shape of this headrest made out of single piece of wood.

Headrest with conical base decorated. The upper plateau is broken on one end.

Very small headrest from Ethiopia, difficult to attribute to a given ethnic group.

Very simple block headrest from Sidamo (Ethiopia)

A marvellous piece of wood from Gurage Tribe. Nice patina due to the butter used by Gurage in their hairstyle. Piece for collectors or someone that like to decor house or for interior design.

The different ethnic group of Wollayta, Sidamo, Hadiya region of the central Ethiopian highlands have a long-standing tradition with varying types of headrest used by different age or gender segments. This headrest made out of a single piece of wood has a beautiful patina and is in perfect condition.

This headrest is made out of 2 pieces, which is not common among Ethiopian headrests. The base caracteristical  Kafficho circular base has been made with the use of a woodturning lathe. Llathes have been used in Ethiopia for centuries, but curiously they never penetrated further into sub-Saharan Africafrica

Nice headrest from Gurage Tribe in block form. Nice patina due to the butter used by Gurage in their hairstyle. Piece for collectors or someone that like to decor house or for interior design

Oromo headrest with nice dark patina.

Nice headrest of unknown origin, probably Gurage bought in Addis Ababa in 1974. No similar type of headrest could be found in specific literature consulted.

Vers small headrest from the lower Omo valley.