This small but perfect headrest, carved from a very hard wood, demonstrates an extraordinary graphic power. Itslustrous, dark surface, gently curving upper platform with its neatly incised designs, two-lobed base with chamfered sides, and central raised ‘V,’ make this an outstanding example of a classic Shona headrest. The vertical panel is precisely carved with three concentric circles in a row with raised bumps at their centers, and interlocking Vs above and below. Beyond this identification, it is a challenge to locate it within a more narrowly ascribed region or style type. Dewey has, however, established six style areas for Shona headrests and this example shows elements of both the ‘Central’ and ‘Eastern’ styles that he describes. The features of the sleeping surface are specifically associated with Dewey’s Eastern Style. Not only is the upper platform surface decorated with the zigzag lines, it also has two inward pointing triangles, a feature not common in the other groups. Another unusual element is the three, rather than two, concentric designs without filler areas between. Dewey illustrates only one example with three concentric designs which he places in the Central style region, and which, he notes, is very similar to the Eastern region.

‍
An example very similar to this one was exhibited in Africa: Art of a Continent at the Guggenheim Museum in1996 and was reproduced in the catalogue. Müller and Snellerman illustrate four headrests on Plate XIV in their1893 book, Industrie Des Cafres that closely resemble No.’s 1, 2, and 3 in this catalogue. These are recorded ascoming from ‘Zambéze’ which is described as the basin of the Zambezi River from its mouth in the Indian Ocean,to Tete in Mozambique. This area abuts Zimbabwe to the west, Zambia to the north, and Malawi to the northeast.They, however, did not classify these headrests as Shona, but rather identified them according to the area in whichthey were collected. This region, with its closeness to the Zimbabwean border, would correspond with Dewey’sEastern style.