Sumba head with cowrie headdress in grey sandstone 11 cm

Key measurements for finding the right location:

• Width: 7 cm
• Depth: 5 cm
• Height: 11 cm
• Weight: 0.54 kg

Everything you need to know about the materials:

• Material: Gray stoneware, three rows of white cowrie shells glued
• Top row laid flat, the other two vertical: the headdress has volume
• Face reduced to three slits
• Center of gravity shifted upwards by the headdress
• Without base
• Indoor use

The contrast between a very dull grey stone and shiny cream shells is the entire subject of the piece. Against a neutral background, it only shows its headdress, which catches all the light, while the head recedes: this is the exact opposite of what the version without shells does.

What you need to know for installation and maintenance:

• Hold the piece by the base, never by the headdress
• The cowries on the bottom row come loose first; they are glued, not sewn
• Keep any fallen cowries; they can be re-glued invisibly
• Keep away from table edges; the piece is less stable than it appears
• Indoor use