Headrest with motif of chrysanthemums

The headrest comes from the folk workshops called Cizhou yao. These wares were usually coarser and had a thicker body adorned with painted and carved decor. Natural symbolism or even inscriptions with congratulatory motifs are common. Two characters da ji (great happiness) are engraved on the headrest’s upper side. Inscriptions and decorative elements on headrests were meant to symbolically protect their owners or bring them good luck and positive influences. Square headrests, such as this one, were used as funerary accoutrements; those serving for day-to-day use had rather dull edges or cylindrical shapes.