Wooden head of a man (?). Nearly cylindrical, hollow rounded on top, with a loop at each side (representing braids of hair ?). The close-fitting headgear has honey-combed appearance at the front, but the back is incised in rectangular pattern, with a miniature horn at each side above the ear, which is small. Brass overlay all around the face and over the hair braids, hiding even the chin. Below the choker is a braided or voluted band in brass sheeting. Wood and brass inlays on forehead, and wood inlays for the pupils. The nose appears to have been broken and re-polished. Circular opening on back of head, and below this is a long rectangular opening.
In Edo thought, the head signifies the ability to rule and achieve. Altars to the human head were built to celebrate the power of the ancestors of royalty, chiefs and commoners. While royal commemorative heads were made of brass, in the 1830s chiefs were given permission to display wooden heads on their altars.