Outstanding not only for its elegant torqued and crossed struts forming the support for its sleeping surface and for the finely carved rows of zigzags on its two lugs, this ‘dressed’ headrest is also an extremely rare example that has retained the embellishments added by its original owners. These additions are not merely decorative but add power to the object. Twisted and bound around its middle are three types of metal chain – a finely linked rusted industrial ball-chain whose surface has oxidized to a reddish hue, a chain of small dark metal links, and a circlet of handmade chain with large circular loops. White glass buttons, threaded together on elephant hair, are draped across the one side. The rectangular chamfered base is twisted at a slight angle to the sleeping platform, an aspect of the design that is most unusual and possibly a result of the torquing of the wood as it dried. The base includes a low relief triangle darkened with poker work at the center of both front and back. As the raised, central triangle is considered a distinctive feature of Shona headrests, and the lugs typical of a Tsonga style, this headrest demonstrates how classificatory boundaries drawn along clear stylistic lines need further consideration.