Old neck support, Banio/Me'en, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, dense wood

This ancient neck support comes from a tribe in ethiopia's omo valley. Small traces of wear show that it was used. The fat used for its maintenance gave it a beautiful patina. Neck supports are often described as supports intended to protect elaborate hairstyles, hairstyles often taking long hours or even days to be made. The neck supports of the horn of africa have a surprisingly wide register of shapes. They are therefore wonderful collectibles. The use and the fat used for their maintenance often give them beautiful shiny patinas.