Ho Ho Boy Headrest

c. 1900
$980 USD
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Dimensions
W: 10.0" D: 4.5" H: 4.75"
Materials
Ceramic
Purchase Quantity
Collection #
PR0337
Estimated Shipping
$38

To keep her elaborate hairstyle intact while sleeping, a well-to-do Qing-dynasty woman once used this ceramic headrest as a pillow. This headrest is shaped in the form of a baby boy, a motif commonly termed "ho ho boy." Children were a popular motif in Chinese art and furniture, and were considered lucky talismans, especially for prospective parents. This ho ho boy headrest may have once been used by an expectant mother, hoping the pillow would give her dreams of a healthy baby. A monochrome white glaze sheets across the exterior and pools in the folds of the sleeping child's clothes.

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Headrests

Headrests and neck pillows have been used since ancient times to keep the head elevated while sleeping and hold the body in a comfortable position. Whether functional or purely decorative, such headrests were crafted from a variety of materials and were often decorated with elaborate patterns or symbolic motifs.

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Andrea Goldman | Andrea Goldman Design

“Over the years, I’ve incorporated many pieces from PAGODA RED into my designs. Not only can they balance new furnishings (and often new construction) by feeling more established, but the pieces emanate a sense of rich history, often leaving you wondering where they were in a previous life. These beautiful pieces carefully hand-selected by the team at PAGODA RED, coupled with their unbelievable customer service, make them a must-have for any home.”

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