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.

A typical Boni headrest with an upper crescent platform, small circular base and double flat supporting columns. The headrest is carved in a fine, very light wood, known as "hagar". The Borana of Ethiopia may use similar headrests.

Nice Somali headrest with central rectangular base and pole and a large circular crossbar. Made out of a medium heavy wood not common among Somali headrest. The headrest could also belong to neighbouring nomadic tribes in Ethiopia.

Somali headrest in good condition made out of light wood A round conical base supports a V shaped central support and a large circular crossbar. Engravings on the upper ends of the crossbar.

This wooden headrest made out of light yellow wood, has a conical base split into 4 parts, a rectangular central pillar and a rather small upper platform. The central pillar bears a number of curious engravings. The headrest is in perfect condition.

This small, easily unbalanced base has made the headrest an emblem of alertness and the ability to wake to action. Made of sturdy but relatively light wood, the headrests are used on beds and are also carried by herdsmen who use them to rest while keeping an eye on their herds

Headrest with a dome shaped base, a single flat central support which narrows in the middle, and an upper platform slightly narrowed in the middle part. Excellent condition and a nice patina

Headrest with a dome shaped base, a single flat central support which narrows in the middle, and an upper platform slightly narrowed in the middle part. Some sign of use, otherwise a nice patina