Celadon Temple Headrest

To keep her elaborate hairstyle intact while sleeping, a well-to-do Qing-dynasty woman would use a rigid headrest or neck pillow to keep her head elevated. Whether functional or purely decorative, such headrests were crafted from a variety of materials and were often decorated with elaborate patterns or symbolic motifs.

This ceramic headrest dates to the turn of the century and is modeled in the form of a temple or other grand building. Likely intended as a decorative sculpture, the headrest is charmingly detailed, with perforated lattice windows, low outer railings, and a curved top textured to resemble roof tiles. Peering through the arched doorway, you can make out a group of robed figures performing a ceremony before a raised altar. A pale blue-green celadon glaze cloaks the exterior with a glassy finish.

Minor chips and losses.