A Brief History Of Pillows

The only thing better than a Bed is a Bed of Pillows on a Bed…

When the word ‘Pillow’ meets our ears- the images that flash by us are a caressing blur of comfort, softness, relaxation, calm, and altogether coziness. It is simply not natural for us to imagine a time so hard and bleak and dark that none of these feelings accompanied the pillow as it was once used and yet that was the exact experience of our unfortunate ancestors.

The modern Pillow as we know it was only brought about to humanity en mass around the mid eighteenth century. You read that right- it wasn’t until the mid 1700’s that the modern pillow came to influence our idea of sleep and comfort. Jesus never brought us pillows- they waited 1700 years after his death to appear.

I myself have just begun a strange and satisfying chapter into the world of pillow design- I wanted to share the moment of my life that rings out the loudest as my moment of realizing the magic of the pillow and share the broader history of these strange soft and comforting things.

My Story Begins in Heartbreak…

Aye yes it was a sad time long ago as I struggled to get through one of my first bouts of loneliness in the wake of being spurned. I was recommended a session with a lady {alas I don’t recall her name but she was witchy} who besides various meditation/ breathing exercises recommended that I lay down in several pillows. The Idea was to mimic that of a spooning position- I know- it was quite strange but I was 21 and intrigued. So she arranged pillows all around me.

I lay on my side, hugging a throw pillow, between my knees there was one, under my head ofcourse but also very intriguing- there were some behind my back as well. It was a most comforting experience. I might have had a good cry. Then I eventually moved away from the country and into New York. It was intense ofcourse but I had the best pillow arrangement to always look forward to. This very tiny little comforting thought actually padded {no pun intended} my early countryboy anxieties there. I stayed there for 11 years.

Nothing like the resting of a weary head upon a kind ghostie…

The Pillow Histories…

So what in the world were we doing about resting our heads until then? The obvious first answer is: We just rested them on the ground or the floor. Over time however- we got unwelcomed visitors such as centipedes, spiders, beetles, and other critters. Nay. No Thankye. These days we generally sleep indoors where such intruders tend not to venture. But the critters at one time had free access to our mouth, ears, nostrils, and eye lids. Not a pleasant way to wake up.

A wild idea emerged to elevate the head from the ground via the ‘Stone Pillow’. Thats right it was made of stone. Ouch. The oldest record we have is 9000 years BC in what is now iraq {then it was called Mesopotamia}. In Egypt they improved the design with a merciful half circle carved in it eventually to support the neck. The Orient had them as well but as they were mostly for the likes of Geisha’s and the Elites- with ornate paintings on them. Though the aesthetic had advanced to be decorative they were still made of bamboo, stone, and porcelyn. Alas.

“The First Pillow” Circa Ancient Egypt

A Calming Pillow indeed. Truer Words…

“September Sycamore Sorcery”

I surmise though that in such trying and comparatively inconvenient times as those- a rock-hard pillow was the least of their worries. Still the question I have is did no one at anytime think to use something soft to rest their weary head? There are some accounts of a masculine dismissal of this as ‘a sign of weakness’ {so I am told but did not find anything to say that said dismissal was widely accepted but it is a theory that might explain why- our collective existence from cave dwelling to the 18th century the consciousness of a soft pillow was not widely insisted on.

Heavens! Surely a lover engendered the notion that the feel of his or her amours’s soft yet firm thigh offered a gentle support to drift away from the woes of the times and perhaps they could replicate it with a bundle of blouses, petticoats, or a torn old jacket or dress.

The 2 Sides of a truly gorgeous and calming-conversation-piece-of-a-pillow! Also- available now in the “ODDS & ENDS” Shop

I wrote this post to share what possessed me to make these beauties. One thing I would add- and this is perhaps the biggest reason: I am always striving for an emotional experience in my art and my stories. It is a certain kind of emotion- the kind that comes from finding beauty. Beauty is a comfort to us all in this world. Sometimes we can go beyond experiencing a piece of art that hangs upon the wall- separated by the ethers and frames and glass. Sometimes we can feel the emotions as we hold the piece close to us- even squeeze it tight. This is just as high a value as ‘Highly valued’ art in my opinion. So enjoy the new pillows and think about the ancestors that haunt or more civilized sleeping dreams and may you feel the lingering ghostly sensation of gratitude.

I am so proud of these pieces. Each comes with her own unique ghost story large, small, or purely visual. I hope you find them as comforting as I and others have…

Best, Sol.

See the latest pillows and fun pieces available now at the ODDS & ENDS shop!