Opium Pillow Headrest: Reclining Child, Hand-Painted Porcelain, China, Vintage 1960s

This porcelain headrest, shaped in the form of a reclining child, belongs to a tradition of Chinese ceramic headrests dating back over a thousand years.

• Maker: Unknown (unmarked)
• Materials: Ceramic, hand painted enamel
• Origin: China
• Era: Vintage, 1960s–1970s (20th-century replica of Song–Ming dynasty form)
• Dimensions: 12.0" long × 6.0" tall × 5.0" wide
• Weight: Approx. 4 lbs before packaging — please factor into shipping at checkout
• Condition: Very good vintage. No issues; dark shading is intentional painted decoration. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

Hand painted in pink, blue, and yellow enamel with a cheerful floral pattern — the dark shaded areas are part of the design, painted intentionally to suggest depth and dimension. It is unmarked, and its maker remains unknown, but the form is unmistakable. This is a heavy piece; please keep that in mind at checkout.

A striking decorative object for a chinoiserie interior, an Asian art collector, or anyone drawn to the intersection of form, function, and centuries of craft tradition.

Ceramic headrests have been made in China since the 10th century, traditionally shaped like animals, plants, or small human figures, with a curved top surface designed to support the head during sleep. The originals date from the Song through Ming dynasties and are among the most collectible objects in Chinese ceramic history. This is a 20th-century replica in the traditional style — made in the 1960s or 1970s — and highly collectible in its own right.

Browse our shop for more chinoiserie and Asian-inspired decorative objects to round out your collection.