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ID #SA1110195
FOR SALE
£695
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A Rare 18th Century Chinese Folding Bamboo Headrest, Circa 1800
For sale by Robert Belcher Antiques
for sale €813     $883
£695
Robert Belcher Antiques

Robert Belcher Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2017
Browse dealers 409 items
  • About Us
    Robert belcher antiques was established in 1984 and is a high quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative items.
Id #SA1110195
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A Rare 18th Century Chinese Folding Bamboo Headrest, Circa 1800

19th century
Description

This ingenious rare and beautifully made piece dates to circa 1800. It is cleverly designed enabling it to fold flat for ease of transport. This is not a decorative export item but would have been locally used by a travelling worker to add a little comfort when sleeping. It is remarkably flexible for a head support. It is constructed from thin bamboo sections which bow and flex underweight. The surface is made up of multiple thin strips which independently move for added comfort.

This fascinating piece has a superb age related colour and patination and is in remarkably good original condition and would be an interesting addition to any collection or home.

Chinese, circa 1800

Date of Manufacture

Robert Belcher Antiques has dated this Chinese Folding Bamboo Headrest to the 1800s.

Independent Date Guide ID 08771365
Dealer's Item Date1800s
Sellingantiques Date1800s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-250 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1800s:
Wooden peg hinges and mortise joints: traditional joinery without metal fixings.
Deeply rounded wear on the edges: long domestic handling.
Hand-shaped bamboo slats: natural flexibility across the sleeping surface.
Dark oxidised timber on the runners: years of use on floors.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions
Height
15cm (5.91")
Width
35cm (13.78")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1110195
Dealers Notes

Robert Belcher Antiques was established in 1984 and is a high-quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative objects. After forty years of shop keeping and maintaining beautiful showrooms, which have been regularly open six days a week, Robert and Wendy have now taken a slightly different approach to their business. Having sold their retail premises, the antique business is now fully online. The picture framing service has ceased to operate because of moving online.

You can contact Robert and Wendy by email or telephone to discuss items from their extensive catalogue of attractive pieces and make purchases. Customers can rest assured that the long-established dealership is continuing to run in an exceedingly professional way, selling genuine and high-quality items which are guaranteed to please the most discerning collector, decorator or homeowner.

All items will be personally hand packaged to a high standard. Small items are extensively wrapped using the best materials and are often double boxed. Items are then shipped with DHL or Royal Mail fully insured and often with next day delivery. Larger items would be personally delivered or sent with a specialist antique delivery firm, or for outside the U.K, a professional shipping company.

Please enjoy viewing their collection of rare and interesting pieces and have the assurance that Robert and Wendy will do their utmost to make sure your experience is exceptional, as has been recognised by many customers who have bought with confidence regularly over the years.

Contact details

Email: robertbelcherantiques@gmail.com

Telephone: 01905 622468

Mobile 07929 011224

07720 607007

Website: https://www.robertbelcherantiques.co.uk

Instagram: robertbelcherantiques

Description
This ingenious rare and beautifully made piece dates to circa 1800. It is cleverly designed enabling it to fold flat for ease of transport.
“
This is not a decorative export item but would have been locally used by a travelling worker to add a little comfort when sleeping.
Robert Belcher Antiques

It is remarkably flexible for a head support. It is constructed from thin bamboo sections which bow and flex underweight. The surface is made up of multiple thin strips which independently move for added comfort.

This fascinating piece has a superb age related colour and patination and is in remarkably good original condition and would be an interesting addition to any collection or home.

Chinese, circa 1800

Date of Manufacture

Robert Belcher Antiques has dated this Chinese Folding Bamboo Headrest to the 1800s.

Independent Date Report ID 08771365
Dealer's Item Date1800s
Sellingantiques dating1800s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-250 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1800s:
Wooden peg hinges and mortise joints: traditional joinery without metal fixings.
Deeply rounded wear on the edges: long domestic handling.
Hand-shaped bamboo slats: natural flexibility across the sleeping surface.
Dark oxidised timber on the runners: years of use on floors.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
15cm (5.91")
Width
35cm (13.78")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1110195
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2017

Robert belcher antiques was established in 1984 and is a high quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Robert Belcher Antiques Profile Page

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An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports.
1 / 17
Archive I An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports.

A Rare 18th Century Chinese Folding Bamboo Headrest, Circa 1800

Archive II An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View II
Archive III An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View III
Archive IV An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View IV
Archive V An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View V
Archive VI An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View VI
Archive VII An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View VII
Archive VIII An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View VIII
Archive IX An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View IX
Archive X An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View X
Archive XI An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XI
Archive XII An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XII
Archive XIII An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XIII
Archive XIV An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XIV
Archive XV An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XV
Archive XVI An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XVI
Archive XVII An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports. View XVII
Enlarged Archival View
Robert Belcher Antiques

Robert Belcher Antiques
Telephone 07929 011224 or 01905 622468
Location
Worcestershire
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/rbelcher
Verified Since Jul 2017
Items For Sale 409
Items Sold 682
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
Verified Since Jul 2017
View Dealer Info
Location: Worcestershire, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/rbelcher
Verified
Jul 2017
For Sale
409
Sold
682
An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports.
A rare 18th century Chinese folding bamboo headrest, circa 1800
Ref: SA1110195
An eighteenth-century Chinese folding headrest crafted from dark bamboo and carved timber supports.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectHeadrests
  • Period19th century
  • StyleQing Dynasty
  • MaterialBamboo, Hardwood
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsFolding frame, Slatted bamboo seat, Curved side supports, Mortise and tenon joints
  • SizeH 15 cm (6 in) x W 35 cm (14 in) x D 14 cm (6 in)

This Chinese folding headrest originates from the Qing Dynasty around 1800. Constructed from dark brown bamboo and hardwood, the item employs a folding frame with a slatted bamboo seat and curved side supports joined by mortise and tenon construction. Visible details include angled leg pairs joined by low stretchers, protruding dowel ends locking the frame components, and rich patination across the timber surfaces. The object measures 15 cm high, 35 cm wide, and 14 cm deep. Originally designed for travelling workers to sleep on during transit, the piece functions today as an eye-catching decorative accessory for display on a bookshelf or library table. The flexible slatted bamboo sections bow and move independently under pressure, offering a glimpse into practical historical craftsmanship. The dark brown tone and aged timber grain integrate seamlessly into traditional or eclectic interior schemes, adding a talking point to any specialist collection of Asian artifacts or functional antiques.

FAQs

In traditional Chinese culture, headrests supported the neck during sleep to align the spine and preserve elaborate hairstyles. Folding variants were constructed for portability, enabling scholars and merchants to transport them during travel.

These items were predominantly constructed using dense hardwoods such as elm or rosewood combined with slatted bamboo. Traditional joinery techniques, including mortise and tenon joints, were employed to enable structural flexibility without metal fixings.

Authentic period examples exhibit hand-carved joinery, surface patination from handling, and subtle timber shrinkage. Wear is typically concentrated along the central support slats and foot joints.

An antique headrest functions as a sculptural accent when positioned on a bookshelf, sideboard, or mantelpiece. The rich timber tones and geometric frame complement contemporary minimalist or eclectic decorative schemes.

Maintain the item by placing it away from direct sunlight, radiators, or moist environments to prevent timber movement. Dust with a soft microfibre cloth and apply clear beeswax sparingly to preserve the patinated surface.
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