It is rare for the name of a carver of headrests to be recorded in southern Africa. However, the maker of this work is known. He is Ntuli Mchunu who lived near Emhlumba Mountain in the Weenen area, west of Msinga in KwaZuluNatal. He is known for headrests that take the form of a smaller headrest within a bigger one, creating a multi-structured object, as is clearly seen in this example. Its distinctive format alternates finely shaped amasumpa with plain wood surfaces, a feature typical of the headrests carved by Mchunu.

The smaller, internal headrest consists of four block-like columns and a plain horizontal ‘sleeping’ surface that lies neatly just below the actual sleeping surface directly above it. The main headrest brackets the smaller one on all four sides. The two outer columns, taller than the four inner ones, are also covered with finely chiselled amasumpa designs. The two outer columns and the two innermost columns are punctuated with well-placed undecorated rectangles which highlight the carver’s skill and his confident design sense.

Perfectly symmetrical, every angle and every component of this headrest is skilfully considered and carved. The unembellished smooth wood surface of the upper platform surface is repeated on the smaller platform just below, as well as the surface of the base. These simple planar facades are contrasted to the rectangles decorated in serried rows of small pyrimidal forms.

The information in the Headrests from Southern Africa: The Architecture of Sleep identifies four of Mchunu’s headrests, and their original owners.