This wooden headrest originates from the Gurage people of central Ethiopia, a community renowned for their craftsmanship, agriculture, and distinctive cultural traditions. Gurage headrests served a dual purpose: as functional pillows designed to protect carefully styled hair, and as personal possessions that conveyed social identity and status. The carved geometric patterns on the base reflect the Gurage’s wider artistic vocabulary, seen in their architecture, textiles, and decorative arts.
 
The Gurage are also known for their unique contributions to Ethiopian life, including terraced farming of enset (often called the "false banana"), which has sustained their communities for centuries, and their dynamic traditions of music, dance, and oral literature. Headrests like this one embody the Gurage’s blend of practicality and artistry, offering insight into daily life while also carrying cultural and symbolic significance tied to rest, continuity, and protection.